Breathe Fire
On the news of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade — I wanted to share a poem that I wrote the other night when I couldn't sleep... (jet lag + outrage will do that to a person).

BREATHE FIRE
Although I was never
Officially diagnosed
With any diagnosable
Postpartum condition,
I feel that I can draw upon
My personal experiences as
A new mom,
Navigating first-time parenthood,
A global pandemic,
Moves across continents and oceans,
And…and…and…
And I could go on…
But I digress.
I have experienced mom rage,
To the degree that
I may have more closely resembled
A dragon at times
Then that of my actual self.
If it were possible for a person
To breathe fire,
I truly believe I may have needed
To travel at all times
With a portable fire extinguisher,
To protect the things around me
That I hold most dear.
And although I feel
That my mom rage
Has burned less strongly
As of late...
The fire in my belly
Is strong again today.
I feel it boiling up inside of me
From corners and crevices
I didn't even know existed.
But despite the heat,
And the rage,
I feel small...
Powerless.
Powerless against
Powerful forces.
Old, white, power-hungry, political
Forces.
I know that
One mothers rage
Is not enough
To stop them.
But hundreds.
Thousands.
Millions....
That rage could start
A fire too large
To extinguish.
Today, I go inwards.
I conserve my energy,
And breathe normal air,
Because tomorrow...
Tomorrow I have to breathe fire.
Rae is an educator, writer, and host of the ‘Raise Your Hand Motherhood Podcast’. She lives abroad with her German partner and toddler, where she navigates motherhood, 2nd language learning, and a strong desire to share her experiences, create community, and connect with others who are also currently surfing life’s waves – whether they be choppy, flat, or perfect barrel. / Connect with Rae on her podcast website, or on Instagram. • Browse all articles from Rae →
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The gal behind Held In The Heart. The Community Journal is a space for those who feel deeply to express freely. We explore all sorts of things here, from the real & raw healing stories & creative writing, to the funny & fleeting moments of everyday human life. I warmly welcome you and invite you to explore with us!