A Candle Light Vigil for Breastfeeding

I am not a poet but just felt the need to write this.  I have other writing projects but am troubled by the direction breastfeeding advocacy is taking.  So instead of writing about the real issues of breastfeeding advocacy, instead I dance away from those issues.  So this is a break from what has to be written and I realize I am stalling.  But also sometimes things just play in my mind, like this "poem."  And I have to write it on paper.  Usually I don't share my "poems." But this is close to my heart, our world/my country seems to have embraced inhumanity, hate, and violence.  And that colors our world of mothering and children.  We forget the needs of our newest members to this world at great risk to the survival of our future.  The needs of the new child born into this world are the same needs of all children in the past.  The need for the closeness of one's mother, her warmth, her milk, and her touch.  That need subverted by our technology and psychological game-playing will create a high price on humanity and its survival.  May all mothers be surrounded by loving kindness, words of strength and belief in her and the biological wisdom of breastfeeding.  May our society open its eyes to the enormous damage we do when we separate mothers and babies.  May our society find ways to help mothers and babies be together.  

The Candle Light Vigil or A Breastfeeding Requiem  by Valerie McClain

Put a candle in the window for what we have lost.
The experts,the industry expound and exhort.
Encouraging and separating mothers and babies.
Into the cribs of micro-chipped strangers.
All homage to the reality show of parental dangers. 
Welcome baby, welcome baby, to the world of molded plastic:  the bottles, the nipples, and pacifiers galore.
Welcome mother, welcome mother, to the world of molded plastic:  the breastpumps, the nipple-shields, and bottles galore.

Put a candle in the window to guide the young mom,
For the list of necessities in parenting abound.
The mother, the baby, living miles apart.
In a society of violence, death, and disease.
All hail the drones of technology spreading hate and war.
Welcome baby, welcome baby, to the world of molded plastic:  the bottles, the nipples, and pacifiers galore.
Welcome mother, welcome mother, to the world of molded plastic:  the breastpumps, the nipple-shields, and bottles galore.

Put a candle in the window in memory of the past.
The human gift of loving gazes, body warmth, and tender touch.
The mother, the baby, together as one.
In a society that treasured people over money and gold.
All hail to a mother and baby breastfeeding.
Welcome baby, welcome baby, into the arms of your mother.
Welcome mother, welcome mother, into a treasured world of breastfeeding.
Copyright 2013 Valerie W. McClain