Jasmine Lullaby
The poem is for Darla because they don't deserve her.
there is no blissful hell this time, not for her               
instead there is the sun and the jasmine scented rivers
the jasmine is everywhere
tiny white petals all upon the soft ground
always is the view
in this heaven there is only
mother and child
there is no father
sometimes the baby still kicks and pounds
inside, where she wants to keep him
forever, because he is hers
the baby finds love at her pale breast,
her jasmine milk is always warm,
she can sit like that for hours and the baby never tires
sometimes mother sleeps with her child
in her arms, both giving the other
peaceful dreams
the baby is a boy but she doesn't
loathe him for it because he makes her feel
she won't let him into the world
where he can be misguided and harmed
with her he is safe and she even smiles
she sleeps richer, she breathes fuller
the mirrors are not broken here
and mother's body remains
untouched, no longer broken, no longer selfishly spent
there is only love because
baby will never learn to betray
baby will love her the way
she was meant to be loved, the way she deserves
to be loved, and she loves baby,
the way she always knew she could
chances are every day where she is now
the night is no longer a sanctuary of despair
and she only thinks of child and mother
her hair is more golden,
her lips natural and unpainted,
she is finally just her
baby will not abandon her
never
she finally finds happiness
she didn't know it could be so kind to her
until baby, together they will never frown emptiness
and she no longer cries jasmine
but sings the sun to sleep,
and sings the jasmine lullaby to her baby,
run and catch, the lamb is no longer caught
in the blackberry patch
she tastes what her baby tastes and cherishes
the dear one lullaby
because baby is hers
and she is baby's
forever they will be
no judgment and poison memories
together they breathe and pound,
but it is always in lavender quiet
no pain ever,
just darling chimes of twinkling laughter,
just baby and her
loving the eternal lullabye                                           
Tara Ann Stridh
22 November 2001