Love Poem: Momma
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Written by: Maura Webb

Momma

"momma he told me he loved me," the little 9 year old girl cried. "he told me he loved me but I said no."

"why did you say no?" the mother questioned. "isn't love good?"

"momma he doesn't love me. how could he love me? I am me, he is he. I cannot be loved, I cannot be cherished. I am nothing more than a tangled mop of corn rows and holey  dresses."

"darling," the mother said softly, "if he loves you, he will love you for you. he will brush out your knots and he will patch up your dresses. you both may not be perfect alone, but together you will make an unstoppable duo. he will love you for the beautiful 9 year old you are." 


the mother then wiped the daughter's tears. the daughter hugged her momma and promised she would never change for anything.

but puberty hit, and sooner or later the little girl was a teenager. she obsessed over minuscule details, constantly torn between her values and her popularity. she went from door to door looking for love, but to no avail.

one day, after a rough day of school bells and textbooks, the daughter came home, flushed in tears.

her momma became worried and sat her down on the flower adorned sofa.

"momma, does he love me? he tells me one thing, but his actions say another. he tells me I'm important, but I don't think i am. I am lost in a labyrinth with no map. tell me momma, does he love me?"

the mother looked at her daughter and appeared hurt. 

"darling," the mother said with a slight frown, "you should know if he loves you. he should shower you with love and adorn you with his heart. If he does not do these things, he is not worthy of your love. he may or may not love you, but he will not be loved by you. for you, my dear, are as ornate as a sapphire. you are a diamond among a million rocks. do not let your shine wear out. polish yourself. do not blend in with the rocks, for you my darling, were born to stand out. if a boy takes this shine away from you, he has captured you. you have given him everything. instead, look for the boy who will help you polish. look for the one who would pick you out among a million rocks. look for the one who picks the one in a millionth girl, because that is who you are. a one in a million girl deserves a one in a million boy."