Being Mummy Poem by Dee Wright

New baby
clasped tightly.

Wrapped in a vermilion sash
that slashes across her
bright yellow dress.

Baby feeds openly
at her breast

sucking an enormous nipple.

Holding the hand of her
littlest toddler
with the other tot
suffocating her
every step

she tries to clean up
the mess.

They cling & crawl
& coil and howl
around her.

The children
own her

every breath.

She switches
breasts.

The toddlers
squeal & scream.

She washes clean
the jammy hands


of one
...gives the other
a little slap.

Tells her: “No...
don’t do that
that’s dangerous! ”

And when
she cries

comforts
her.

“I’ll be with you
in a sec...! ”

she manages to say.

“That’s ok! ”
I try to smile.

“Could you do
with a cup of tea? ”

“Oh…yes…please! ”

The kettle
Whistles
With a manic jollity.

I take
all three
off of her.

They transfer to me
like fleas.

to climb on my lap.

The couch snores
loudly.

She has fallen
asleep

tea
(cold now)

undrunk.

I shush the kids.

I stoke their mummy’s
hair

sing her
lullaby.

The kids are astonished
at this reversal

and regard it
with awe.

They watch me
with their baby blues

mummy their mummy

as if I were a witch
with a loving spell.

Somewhere in sleep
their mummy smiles.

Shhh. …let’s
leave her now

lost in a dream
that’s all

her own.