Background of the poem :

This poem captures a mother’s guilt as she returns to work when her baby is just two months old, symbolized by the dark, confining forest she carries within. Each tree reflects societal expectations and her own self-doubt, but as dawn breaks, she finds hope and self-acceptance. The journey reveals that love, growth, and purpose can coexist, allowing her to embrace both motherhood and her career with gratitude and strength.

In shadowed woods, I wandered, lost and deep,

A heavy burden, my soul did keep.

Each tree a giant, its branches a cage,

Enclosing my spirit on life’s dark stage.

A prisoner of guilt, with chains unseen,

I dragged through the undergrowth, a mournful queen. The forest’s heart echoed with my despair,

As shadows lengthened and hope grew rare.

But dawn approached, dispelling the night's hold,

And with it, courage – a story untold.

The woods transformed, a path began to gleam,

As I stepped into the sunlight, a hopeful dream.

With newfound freedom, my spirit took flight,

Leaving behind the shadows of the night.

In fields of mercy, where hope does reside,

I found a sanctuary where joy can abide.

No longer bound by darkness, fear, or shame,

I embrace the present, a different game.

With gratitude as my compass, heart aflame,

I navigate life's challenges with a stronger frame.

And in this journey, I've come to see,

That growth and healing are meant to be.

With every step, I'm reborn anew,

A spirit awakened, with purpose true.