She's fixer of sinks
and drier of tears
Anxious, yet valiant
allayer of fears.

She works a full day
Commutes home, and then
She works another
full-time job, again.

She's master accountant
And counselor, too
She sets aside worries
to listen to you.

There's laundry and cooking
and cleaning to do.
Homework, then bathtime
A story or two.

She's finder of toys
And righter of wrongs.
She's busy. She's tired.
She's lonely. She's strong.

When the day is done,
The kids safely in bed,
No energy's left
for the thoughts in her head.

She turns them all off
along with the lights.
Crawls under covers -
Gives in to the night.

Before the rise of the sun
She be up and back to it.
There's no other option
No one else to do it.

If you, too, know this woman
(she goes by many names)
Applaud her, she belongs to
no ascribed hall of fame.

But a tacit sisterhood,
Arduous like no other,
Of extraordinary women
Also know as Single Mothers.

Written by Tamara Sue Appelman, Butyoudontlooksick.com, © 2006