Poem or reading for an expectant mother

[Leafy2018]

Hi,

I am going to a Blessingway for my friend tomorrow - basically an earthy baby shower with no presents and the focus being on lifting up the mother and empowering her for the birth of her baby.

I have to read a poem or a reading and I am stumped! Everything seems so twee and not terribly meaningful.

Does anyone know of any nice poems or readings please??

Thank you!

What a load of nonsense.

That's really helpful, thank you. It's a bit short though.

😂 touché

Seriously though, I just need a nice poem. Not too long as I'm not a huge fan of public speaking!

The Blessingway isn't as mad as a baby shower - no presents, no nappy cakes, no god awful bunting.

I hate baby showers and I love poems.

I love Morningsong by Sylvia Plath, I couldn't stop reciting it in the ward as I looked at new baby. But as usual with Plath it's not typically uplifting.

Ooh the Sylvia Plath one that begins ‘love set you going like a fat gold watch’?

@Craftycorvid x post!!

www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49008/morning-song-56d22ab4a0cee

I also like Catrin re:motherhood www.gillianclarke.co.uk/gc2017/catrin/

My favourite

The Prophet : poets.org/poem/children-1

This seems quite realistic and uplifting at the end. I wouldn't feel uncomfortable sharing this.

Thank you very much. I like the Motherhood one. Are there any other ones similar to that?

The Gillian Clarke one?
I'll think!

Yes, that one @catsock - thank you so much x

The Republic of Motherhood by Liz Berry is brilliant. The whole collection is amazing (and would make a good gift, I think - it got me through the first difficult few months of motherhood and I am not particularly into poetry!) but the title poem is perfect.

If, by Rudyard Kipling.

Not a poem, however this song is beautiful. Cry every time I hear it...

Mark Cohen - The things we've handed down.

The Last Time. It is lovely but a bit weepy.

The Universe is made of sound.

I do not know that I am warm - I have no concept of cold.

I do not know that I am safe - I have no knowledge of danger.

I do not know that it is dark - my eyes have yet to perceive light.

Sometimes I am aware of touch - the walls of the Universe sometimes meet my flailing limbs and I feel the surface on my skin. Occasionally my sweeping hand may find and grasp the cord which floats before me, connecting me to the edge of the Universe.

There is, however, sound.
A constant beat, never ceasing though sometimes faster and sometimes slower. Intermittent creaks and groans seem loud. I often hear a rumbling, irregular sound which comforts me. Fainter sounds are also there sometimes - different rumblings, higher or lower in pitch. There is more sound when the Universe is rocking, gently soothing me to sleep. When all is still and the rocking ceases, there is quiet.

The sounds of the Universe are all I perceive and all that I know.

www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49010/youre

Or Infant Joy by William Blake

Infant Joy
BY WILLIAM BLAKEE_
I have no name
I am but two days old.—
What shall I call thee?
I happy am
Joy is my name,—
Sweet joy befall thee!

Pretty joy!
Sweet joy but two days old,
Sweet joy I call thee;
Thou dost smile.
I sing the while
Sweet joy befall thee.

No idea why it's got bits crossed out!

Just to say thank you so, so much for all the excellent suggestions. Really do appreciate them. I actually read a short thing about my friend and she loved it but I am enjoying reading all there now. I've ordered the Motherhood collection of poems to give her after the baby has been born. Xx