Sisterhood Award

I was recently moved by the poem "Community" by Rachel Barenblat. I copied and planned to post it here, because I feel held by this community of bereaved and infertile mothers (fathers too). When I opened the blog to post it, I was greeted with a comment from Rebeka at Life After Levi. She nominated me for a blog award! Rebeka's kind words and the Sisterhood award made me feel like I was contributing to this community, and so I'm humbly accepting the nomination by posting the image with the rules and 10 more awardees AND posting the poem--because we are all connected.


COMMUNITY

One by one
every woman I know
approaches me
carrying words

it happened to me
my mother
my sister
my best friend

four times in a row
before the baby came
once, before
I even knew

three times
over six years
and then children
healthy and perfect

just keep breathing
in and out
around the stone
you’ve swallowed

I’ve been there
I am holding you
you won’t feel this way
always

[You can read more from Barenblat on her blog and read all of Barenblat's poetry in her online book "Through." It's a free download and you can purchase a paperback as well.]

And now, I must follow the rules and so here are 10 more of our community to receive the Sisterhood Award.

Here are the rules:
Put the logo on your blog or post.
Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude and/or gratitude.
Be sure to link to your nominees in your post.
Let your nominees know they have received the award by leaving them a comment on their blog.
Be sure to link this post to the person who nominated you for the award.


Amy at Surviving the Day (Yes, I know she already received the award, but she left the most lovely photo of a pink tulip and thought of my daughter and I just felt hugged.)

Trish at Fertile Hope (She wrote the most thought provoking post about the r-word that brought me to her blog.)

Stephanie at Beauty in the Breakdown (Beautiful posts of artistic expressions of parents' grief journey)

Anarchist Mom at Anarchist Mom (Because she always posts sincere and honest thoughts, and frequently challenges how I see the world, and I'm of a mind that that's a good thing)

Sarah at Cover her Briefness in Singing (I was drawn to her blog because of the title--I have a thing for singing--and I quickly added her blog to list of frequent reads)

Sophie at faraday's garden (another baby loss mama who held her baby girl for a short time)

Kari whose blog is private, but I wanted to acknowledge because she's another bereaved mother who writes smart and expressive essays

Jessie at The Encouragement of Light (I love the poetry she frequently includes and am inspired by how she walks her grief journey)

Loribeth at The Road Less Travelled (Because I relate to being a parent without a living child and she embraces life, choosing to thrive as well as survive)

Mommy (you can call me OM) at Overeducated Mommy (She always leaves such kind and comforting comments)