Poem For A Daughter Poem by Anne Stevenson

Poem For A Daughter

Rating: 4.7


'I think I'm going to have it,'
I said, joking between pains.
The midwife rolled competent
sleeves over corpulent milky arms.
'Dear, you never have it,
we deliver it.'
A judgement the years proved true.
Certainly I've never had you

as you still have me, Caroline.
Why does a mother need a daughter?
Heart's needle, hostage to fortune,
freedom's end. Yet nothing's more perfect
than that bleating, razor-shaped cry
that delivers a mother to her baby.
The bloodcord snaps that held
their sphere together. The child,
tiny and alone, creates the mother.

A woman's life is her own
until it is taken away
by a first, particular cry.
Then she is not alone
but a part of the premises
of everything there is:
a time, a tribe, a war.
When we belong to the world
we become what we are.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Jasbir Chatterjee 21 December 2015

congrats on being poet of the day today! Just like 'Carol of the Birds' this poem is also a great read. Loved this poem very much. Thanks for sharing.

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Bharati Nayak 18 March 2023

An awesome write about motherhood! , 'A woman's life is her own until it is taken away by a first, particular cry. Then she is not alone but a part of the premises of everything there is: a time, a tribe, a war.'

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Kumarmani Mahakul 02 August 2016

Congratulations to see your poem in list of modern poem of the day. This is very interesting, amazing and emotional piece of work. This child is always affectionate to mother. Motherhood explains the unlimited love for children....10

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Edward Kofi Louis 02 August 2016

A mother to her baby! ! Nice work.

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Ratnakar Mandlik 02 August 2016

A womans life is her own until it is taken away by a first, particular cry Transformation of a woman into a mother with her child's birth marvelously unfolded. Thanks for sharing.

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Akachukwu Lekwauwa 02 August 2016

a lovely birth poem, few things in life could be compared to the joy it brings. i once wrote one i titled 'I To Hera You Cry'...somebody may want to check it out

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