My body is a bed and breakfast

Supple mattress and simple sweets

Why would I be expected to alter the amenities

Adding curb appeal for those never to be guests

My body is a bed and breakfast for one

Having been the ecosystem of her existence

The only world she’s ever known is my bodily biome

One stop shop for cell division and portal pushin’

Check in time 7:10 PM

Flying into this world to be draped over her womb room

Crawl with her might for a late night mommy bite

Rooting for and onto her tree of life

The newborn equivalent of opening the door to stare at the fridge

Folded over easy egg curled baby

With a new worldly room bigger than her needs

Cuddle snuggle to my bodily comforter

Arms draped around so she doesn’t have to clutch

Shhh shhh baby, I’m not silencing you

But using my voice as your mobile white noise

Go away silence of the outside world

Lay your tender spotted head on my chest

The soundtrack of my heartbeat beckoning you

Stay with me always, it’s that simple

Check out time not in my life time

Please stay indefinitely

My body is your bed and breakfast

Part time bouncy house

Your breast crawl turned mommy mountain climb

Exploring the unknown from the safety of what’s most known

Time for snacks and naps

Sip sip milkie nom noms

Star gazing into my eyes

Your Crown Jewels

The emeralds of your sky

Under my awestruck gaze you slumber

Draped over my supple tummy mattress

Your belly full of simple sweets

My body is your bed and breakfast for one indefinitely

As your world grows

So does the distance between time and tummy and teet

Until a new feat has you uncertain

Reaching out with that mighty help me hug

Scooping you up

Shh shh baby, I’m not silencing you

But using my voice as your mobile compass

When the world engulfs you with too much

Follow my heartbeat back home

Where your smile beams as I cross your sight

Shooting star eyes twinkling

Still the center of your universe

Mommy sun back in orbit

These fleeting moments quenching thirsts

Absorbing the theft that is check out time

One day you’ll wake up and want your own room

A bed made of fibers

With a glass of water on a nightstand

I’ll become but a visitor

Some days a “get out!” uninvited guest

No longer your sleepy sustenance steward

Might I bow out with grace

Tears rolling down my face

Unsure what to do

Without the familiar feel of you

My weighted blanket

Wandering on her otherworldly way

Is there turn down service

For my vacant bodily bed and breakfast for no one

——————

written by Lori Crawford on 7/1/2022 for her littlest love

recited on 3/24/2023 at the Postpartum Playcation Project event