fbpx
April - June 2003, Poems

Motherhood

By Samantha Sanchez

Rahim
Bismillah ir Rahman ir Rahim
In the name of He who knows the contents of my womb
This womb is the birthplace of compassion
the birthplace of mercy

God makes us Um
Mother
full of mercy
full of His mercy
Motherhood is compassion from God
Motherhood is compassion towards children
Um is only a vehicle of God’s infinite mercy
Rahim is only a vehicle of His infinite compassion

How blessed we are as women to be part of
this triangle
this relationship
To feel within us God’s mercy
How fortunate that God entrusts
to women
for a brief period of time, to carry
and for a lifetime, to nurture
A soul

Notes:
* Bismillah ir rahman ir rahim – in the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
* Um – (Arabic) mother.
* The word ‘womb’ or ‘uterus’ in the Arabic language is ‘rahim’.
The ‘rahim’ (womb) is suspended from the throne of God.