She Loves Them (As Long As She Can)

She opens up her home
to the abandoned and abused.
She takes the time to care
knowing she’s being used.
In an imperfect system,

she does what she can do.
She fosters their little souls
when no one else wants to.
She’s a mother’s mother,

she’s a woman’s woman.
Knowing the facts at hand,
she loves them as long as she can.
Half a million young souls
are in the system every year.
And in this our America,
they’ve only known abuse and fear.

Some find an adopted home,
some fall through the cracks.
Some simply age out,
those are the cold hard facts.
Some might say she’s a saint,
some may say she’s a fool.
But, I think she’s an angel
living by the golden rule.

History of the poem:

A friend of mine has an aunt who is a foster mother. She was always talking about how she would get a new child and how she never knew how long they would be with her. But she always opened up her home and her heart to these little ones who needed care. She had adopted several children and continued to love the ones who cycled through her home always grieving when they would go. I have lost contact and so no names are provided.

I have sat on the poem for awhile not knowing how to get it out there. However, through work and church, I have become friends with former foster kids and through their stories have become aware of how important this calling is and I decided it was time to release the poem hoping it would honor, inspire and perhaps motivate others to become foster parents.