And I’ve Loved

I’ve been a Mother
to newborn crack addicts,
victims,
and survivors.
And I’ve loved.
I’ve been a Mother
to punch throwers,
back talkers,
promiscuous young girls
on flights of fancy
who have incurred
the fury
of teachers,
caseworkers,
police, and
judges.
And I’ve loved.
As the crack addicts,
victims,
survivors,
punch throwers,
back talkers,
and promiscuous young girls
grow into
loving,
upstanding—healed—
members of society
that sometimes want
to talk back
and throw a punch
or two,
I love.