Between Bruises & Blooms

The card
shows a woman
calming a lion.

Mine
looks different.

Four tiny hands.

One twelve-year-old
finding his own strength.

One little boy
who still reaches
for hugs.

Two one-year-old girls
who climb into my lap
like it is
the safest place
left on earth.

People tell me
I am strong.

They think
strength
is carrying everything.

They don’t realize

strength

is letting four children
teach me
why I keep standing.