The apple falls and rolls,
far from the tree,
released to hit the ground
so easily.
The apple reaches out,
too young to see,
what has her by the roots;
she can't break free.
A buried burden born
to cloud the mind;
maternal inner woes
insist their bind.
It's cold inside her shade,
no sun to find,
and to her spreading gloom,
the tree is blind.
When chemicals invade,
unseen, untried,
complex, the interplay
of pain inside.
Once vibrant leaves now dull,
her colors hide,
and barren boughs reveal
an ugly side.
The fallen one once longed
to only be
the apple of an eye
who failed to see.
Inside depression's haze;
a broken tree
could look upon her child
with apathy.
Yet, passing years and time
have much to tell,
and stronger are the ones
who've rolled through hell.
The shackles of neglect
that I knew well
would chain me to the tree
from whom I fell.
It's easy to be bruised
by falls, unplanned,
if we can't see the roots
beneath the sand.
Although it's hard to rise
and hurts to land,
sometimes, we have to fall
to understand.
My years spent on the ground
would make me see;
the hold that slowly healed,
and she saw me.
She severed both our chains,
she set us free,
and rose to skies anew;
a sturdy tree.
The burden of our past
now cast aside,
I saw the strength it took
to change the tide.
I hope with every bloom
she'll know my pride,
for we began again
the day she tried.
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Author Notes
Postpartum depression (PPD) can occur after childbirth and it affects mothers physically, emotionally, and mentally, typically developing within the first few weeks to months after giving birth. PPD is more severe and longer-lasting than the "baby blues," which are short-term feelings of sadness and anxiety common in the first few days after childbirth.
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) This free, confidential service is available 24/7 and offers support and information in English, Spanish, and more than 60 other languages. Counselors can listen, connect callers with local support groups, and refer them to other health care professionals.
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