13 May
The Mothers of Iraq
On this Mother’s Day, I think of the Mothers of Iraq,
Venturing out in the soft, waning hours of the afternoon
To the market for food for their children,
And bringing home the sights, and smells, and fears of the destruction of their city.
On this Mother’s Day, I think of the Mothers of Iraq,
Cringing with fright as they hear our President boast,
“We will fight them on the streets of Baghdad,
So we will not have to fight them here.”
On this Mother’s Day, I think of the Mothers of Iraq,
Covering the broken and bloody arms,
And legs, and heads of their wounded children
With their black veils of sorrow.
On this Mother’s Day, I think of the Mothers of Iraq,
Wailing and weeping over their lost, dead children,
And I weep with them,
And beg their forgiveness for allowing this to happen.
Mary Oleary-McGlynn
Amen!