It's Like...

I haven't been on this in ages. My students had a poetry speaker come today. She's a professional slam poet and she blew their minds. She gave them a writing prompt and since she was also writing, I did too. 

 What it's like to be a Single Mother 

 It's like I'm pulled in 100 directions 

It's like, pay the rent or the gas? 

It's like who will teach him how to play ball? 

It's like, who will hold me at night? 

It's like a piece of me is missing 

It's like he fills my whole world with joy 

It's like I get 100% 

100% of the hugs 

100% of the kisses 

100% of his love 

and 100% of the debt 

The stress 

The "I'm not good enough" 

It's like who has the time to date? 

It's like who has the time to shower? 

It's like I wear too many hats 

and I only have one head 

It's like what is child support? 

It's like fruit or vegetables this week? 

It's like I'm failing in every aspect of my life 

Lazy teacher 

Lazy parent 

Lazy can't-shake-the-baby-weight-fatty 

It's like every guy thinks I'm looking for a "father" 

It's like, if you call me "baby momma", never call me again, lose my number 

It's like I don't need you to play at being his daddy 

I'm his father 

I'm his mother 

I'm his best friend 

I'm his biggest fan

I'm the protector 

I'm the disciplinarian 

And I'm the soft place to land 

I'm the good cop 

I'm the bad cop 

I'm the late night and early day 

I'm the glue that 

Fills every crack with 

Every piece of 

My identity. 

Because when he looks back 

On his life On his childhood On this family 

He won't see the struggles, 

He won't see my inadequacies 

He won't see the bad days 

He'll only feel Only remember Only see 

Love.