Three Poems
Mandi Raz
Maternity Ward
They’re basking in the newborn star
Glitter gluttons stealing shine
Unlikely gift of Shadow—Glow
and she is mine
I move, betrayed, across the floor
dimming all I fall upon
searching for my mirrored friend
the steady gaze I trusted in
the light I was when Glow set in
but she is gone
Mother was a Mindsmith
Mother was a mindsmith
Pulled over in Kansas
to give us the open, free
We ran against grassy acres laughing
Still feel sunshine to think it
She knew this hereditary winter
Her frost was our frost
On better days she directed memories
carefully curated afternoons
wove them into pretty coats
to keep us alive
Why We Climb
I am in a hole
dreaming of wild ponies
arboretums and thunder snow
cowgirl boots in muddy gardens
beignets and brie
honeybee queens
all the things I will teach her
how to claw and climb
dust herself off at the edge of a hole
and why
Mandi Raz
Mandi Raz holds a Master's degree in Nonprofit Management from the New School University in New York City and a B.A. from Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY. She lives in Huntington, NY and writes poems inspired by motherhood. More of Mandi's poems are available on Instagram @PoemPartum.