The Demands of Motherhood

This is predominantly a poem about motherhood, and the various roles a mother is expected to take within a family. The first two couplets immediately highlight the way this life is constantly in motion, twenty-four hours a day: “How often you got up in the middle of the night” (Line 1). This is a familiar image for any parent; motherhood doesn’t sleep. The following stanzas take a more active approach. The speaker brushes their children’s teeth while singing songs they know their children will like, and which will make their children relaxed and responsive. The implication is that this song isn’t one the speaker would normally listen to, and may even be a hardship; however, they sing it happily as part of their parenting role. The poem goes to list a range of seemingly contrasting skills, such as violin and dramatic...