Postpartum Body Yellows

The blues tried to sing their song to me

In the 2 inches too tight pre-baby blue jeans

And the stretch mark maps across my stomach

And my loose abdominal muscles.

The blues tried to sing their song to me

In my sore and tender breasts

And in the thickness of my thighs

And in the number on the scale.

The blues tried to sing their song to me

In frustration towards myself

And through misplaced expectations

And in my mind as I learned and loved.

After some thought 

I decided to one-up the blues.

I picked the bold, brightest color.

Yellow.

And I practiced singing back.

My voice was feeble and unsure at first,

But as the weeks go on,

It grows stronger and bolder

As I sing the yellows.

I sing the yellows 

in the way my stomach

was the perfect home for my baby

Full of love and nurture and protection.

I sing the yellows

In the way my muscles

Rode the waves of contractions

Strong and sure.

I sing the yellows

In the way my strong thighs

Supported my body through labor and delivery

And now, in the way I move around in the world.

I sing the yellows

In the way my breasts

Produce nourishment

And immunity as I feed my baby.

I sing the yellows

In the way the number on the scale

Dances, up and down 

throughout life's seasons.

I sing the yellows

With a joyful smile

And a capable, intelligent mind,

And arms wrapped around my baby.

Sometimes the blues try to sing again. 

But I stop them

With yellow sunbeams

of sunshine and gratitude.

And I sing the postpartum body yellows.

Postpartum Body Yellows video on Instagram