A Recipe for all Mothers

Today I left some dishes dirty
The bed I made at three thirty.
The nappies soaked a little longer,
the odour grew a little stronger.
The crumbs I spilt the day before,
Are staring at me from the floor.
The fingerprints there on the wall,
Will likely still be there next fall.
The dirty streaks on the window panes,
Will still be there next time it rains.
'Shame on you, old lazy bones', I say,
'And just what have you done today?'

I nursed a baby till he slept,
Held a toddler while he wept.
I played a game of hide and seek,
I squeezed a toy so it would squeak.
I pulled a wagon, sang a song,
Taught a child right from wrong.
What did I do this whole day through?
Not much that shows, I guess it's true....
Unless you think that what I've done
Might be important to someone
With bright eyes and soft baby hair.
If that is true, I've done my share.

Joanne Green