Grace and Hope

Yesterday my soul was hungry,

longing to be a mother,

and grieving for what can never be.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick in time.

I wept for the babes I will never hold,

the childish love that would never be mine.

And just when my failing, un-mom heart thought to despair,

love came to me in the form of a pair

of two little girls called Hope and Grace,

reaching to me with chubby arms,

melting my heart in a bear hug embrace.

"Hold me!" cried Hope.

My arms opened wide to her innocent charms.

"Me, too!" giggled Grace.

I made room for her as I saw the light in her face

beaming on me as she squeezed my neck tight.

Now I'm radiant too as I walk away

with promises to come another day

and hold them again and maybe we'll read

or just sit and talk and they'll crawl up in my lap.

And my heart doesn't feel so empty

as I count up the hugs and kisses

lavished so undeservedly on an un-mom like me.

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(This actually did happen one night as I came home from work to an empty apartment. As I was walking through my complex, Hope and Grace (yes, their real names) saw me and came running up to hug me. It made my day! Hope cried when I had to leave and would not let go of my neck until I promised to come back another day and play...so sweet!)