Hauling out the old words

[ailbhe]

http://ailbhe.livejournal.com/608880.html

Don't be strong, you mothers.
Scream for help. Be weak.
There in the strength of others
You will find the peace you seek.
Don't be strong, you mothers.
Cry out, cry long, cry loud -
Don't stand all alone with your baby
Weeping unheard in the crowd.
Don't be strong, you mothers.
Don't waste your strength on this.
Reach out, let others help you.
That's what they want. It is.

Comments

[supermouse]

I like this, but I have no constructive wossnames to say why I do. I just do. Even though I am not a mother, it strikes a chord.

[firecat]

I love this.

[thedivinegoat]

Oh god yes.

[undine]

well said! :)

[jexia]

But what if asking for help takes more energy than you've got?

[ailbhe]

Well, yes.

[pauamma]

I am in no way an expert on that specific topic (or in asking for help in general), but I interpret

Don't be strong, you mothers.
Cry out, cry long, cry loud -
Don't stand all alone with your baby

as saying "Don't be too proud to accept offered help, even if you didn't ask for it or if you think you don't deserve it or should be able to do without it"

[jexia]

Offered help? Whassat?

[pauamma]

OK, I can't tell whether this is sarcasm, personal experience, or both, and I've reached the limit of what I think I can reasonably read into that poem anyway, so I think it's time for me to bail out of that discussion (and consider whether I should have stepped in at all).

[batswing.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[sidheag.livejournal.com]

This brought tears. But *yes*, and not just mothers, either.

[quentinwrites.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. Oh yes, definitely.

[hfnuala.livejournal.com]

Indeed