“Orna Ross harnesses language to recreate life's moments by creating a canvas where every word scintillates with depth and meaning.” AMAZON.COM

In Circle of Life Orna Ross delves into the profound journey of motherhood and the nuanced art of caregiving, capturing a complex tapestry of emotions and experiences, from joy and wonder to challenge and growth.

With characteristic eloquence and depth, Ross presents a collection that is both a celebration and a candid exploration of the role that shaped all our lives—mother, caregiver, protector, and nurturer.

The book celebrates the incredible privilege and emotional rollercoaster of caring for others, while encouraging us to rejoice in the gifts we receive from those in our care.

And to recognise how it feels when we don't receive the mothering we need...and when we do.

Poems about motherhood and caregiving

This illustrated book of poetry is a perfect gift for Mother’s Day but also for any occasion when we want to  honor anyone, male or female, who has nurtured or nursed, protected or pampered us.

This book also acknowledges the universal capacity for nurturing that transcends gender and personal history. Ross invites us to recognize and celebrate the caregiver within each of us, making this collection a profound statement on love, resilience, and the human condition.

It can even be a gift to self. Mothering is a practice, as well as an experience. Something we give as well as receive. And most of us could do with more self-mothering.

As Ross says in her introduction, "being well-mothered ourselves is what gives us the capacity to mother others".

The poems in this collection are written to be reread often. Reflecting on their wisdom, the reader finds comfort in the tender but powerful nature of inspirational poetry, which itself offers the nurturing care that these poems celebrate.

Each poem serves as a conduit for the reader to explore the intricacies of both giving and receiving care. Whether it’s the tender moment of holding a newborn, the quiet strength in caring for an ailing parent, or the self-care one learns in the absence of a maternal figure, Ross’s verses reach out to touch on universal truths with grace and empathy.

She draws from her own experience of motherhood, marriage and friendship, and the wisdom of philosophies that explain how we have all been mothered into being.

And how we continue to be nurtured by Mother Earth.

Split into three sections: Beginnings, Leavings, and Returnings, each poem is spectacularly illustrated by pictures the poet co-created with the AI artist app, Dream, by feeding the poem as a prompt. These illustrations enhance the sensory experience, making every page a visual as well as an verbal treat.

By adding layers of interpretation, the artworks invite the reader to linger longer within the lines. All of this adds depth and resonance to this short book, making it a gift full of value and meaning, for oneself or another.

This is not just a book of poetry but a companion for life’s deepest role and a homage to the enduring spirit of care and love. It is a thoughtful gift for mothers on Mother’s Day—or anytime for any caregiver.

12 Poems to Inspire Series

Circle of Life is the fourth book in the Twelve Poems to Inspire series, poetry gift books for special events, like Christmas or Valentine’s Day, and life occasions, including loss and new beginnings.

Notes on Nurture: Personal Poetry Card

Tell me what you would like to say to somebody who has mothered you and I’ll let them know how you feel, with a personally composed, signed, and dedicated poetry-card. Find out more here.