Her child was turning five
and there's no more excuses
not to lose
those ten pounds
after birth
Fit in those jeans
try a new diet
perhaps a dozenth
My dear darling
I wish you could let yourself
just exist
and breathe
and feel
the resonant might
of your perfectly functioning body
May kindness
hold you tight
and sing comfort
into your ears
May the rhythm
of happy days
pulse in your heels
and make you dance
in the streets
as you go
fetch fresh milk
or perform other
perfectly ordinary task
Stop blaming
your yesterself
for not having the power
you gained today
for today is only the beginning
