I started Oh Me, Oh Mãe III after deciding I wanted to stop writing hashtags for my work, and instead experiment with writing and poetry.
Visually the work is a continuation of my previous motherhood work, but the majority of the photographs so far are of me imitating my children. This grew out of not wanting to show my children's full faces within my images; when they appear in my work (usually for family portraits) I crudely edit over their features.
I have always compulsively made work. At the moment, I aim to do a shoot a week and write something daily.
I am currently posting the photographs and text to my Instagram account.
Suckling Sonnet (25th / 26th October 2023)
You are twenty months old and the time has come
To say goodbye to this chapter and close the book
On my breastfeeding adventure, yes, my boobs’ job is done
You want no more of my milk, not a 1000th look
I am proud of my nipples of steel that once used to blister
Now instead of nursing I just open and close the fridge door
I feel sad, but less guilt than the shorter time feeding your sister
Who before six months lost interest and wanted no more
I had always assumed that the task would be easy
That it was natural and we would all know what to do
Though with B it was hard and not at all breezy
And when it came to an end I longed to continue
Again, I would have liked for it to go on, but I can end this journey happier
As this suckling spree was much better, and thankfully not crappier.
----
Imitating B Playing With Curtains & Imitating L Playing With A Cup (8th / 9th November 2023)
Barely making a sound
But I’m told to calm down
While my kids sit down in protest
Not against wars, but me
To hide would be good
Behind curtains, under hood
Invisibility would be better
Beside the sea
A cup for a nose
While the Atlantic breeze blows
And I’m walking backwards
Just trying to be
Often loneliness calls
When I’m stuck staring at walls
Fumbling over foreign words
Not drinking tea
----
Imitating B Hiding Under & L Hiding Behind My Exercise Mat (2nd January 2024)
Don’t Stand On My Mat, Please (2nd January 2024)
New Year's resolutions made while balancing on one leg
A white tiger eats my right foot
As a pink flamingo eats a mole on the side of my left thigh
I request space
I receive little
A green caterpillar sings classic children's songs
While my daughters bob in unison
Then one spins
While the other one claps
The youngest laughs at my eyebrow
And honks my nose
Before smacking her own
I request space
I receive little
I lie down
Before long I feel the weight of two small beings on my back
It was expected
They always do it
I shift
I lie on my back
Someone sits on my stomach
Gives me a hug
Then reclines on my legs
And kicks my belly
I request space
I receive little
Beneath a lunge
A forehead kiss is offered
I appreciate how far we have all come
And how we are all here
I complete the poses
With little space
1.25x speed
And still so little time.
----
Imitating B With Pen Lids On Her Fingers (20th March 2024)
The Colours of Cars (March 2024)
B pushed her fingers into the felt tip lids with ease
Mine took more work
Gravity was needed for the green on my thumb
I was surprised that they stayed on
The colours reminded me of our car game
As sometimes we sit on steps
And look for carros of a certain cor
Usually, we start with the usual
Branco, grey, black
Often, one is already in view
Then, red, which rarely takes long
We wait a bit for blue
Yellow and green make us give up
But we watch out while we head home
Even when I walk alone
I find myself spotting shades
And imagine myself informing the girls
Like we’re playing the game live.
----
Imitating B Wearing Orange Peel As A Headband (10th April 2024)
I’ve long been envious
Of those who can
Peel fruit with a knife
Perfectly remove the skin
Without wasting the flesh
And finish with fingers intact
I’m fond of my thumbs
I (mostly) grew them myself
I want to keep them intact
And attached to me
Not sliced and diced
By a supermarket knife
That cut too far
While unwrapping an orange
T uses the blade with skill
I watch his hands move
While the girls watch the fruit
And push their bowls forward
B takes the rind
Long and intact
At first, she makes glasses
And peers through the hole in the peel
Then she puts it on her head
A headband, it suits her
I liked headbands when I was a girl
L and I eat an orange
In preparation for a shoot
T is out
So, I cut it
It’s too short
I push it over to one side of my head
And pretend it’s large enough.
----
Portrait Of A Mother With Hairclips (27th November 2025)
Nineteen clips pushed in,
Pushed up, pushed back
Attempting to contain the baby hairs
Which appeared long before the babies
Greasy tips darken the mass
Smoothed down, tucked back
Towards the messy Mum bun
Which existed before motherhood
The nervous gnawing of nails
And biting of fingers until bruised
In proximity to the photo
Missiles of men on the mind.
----
Imitating B Playing A Trumpet With Her Thumbs (30th July 2025)
Summer sweating
(But black seemed best)
Thumb trumpet
Children close
Unmotivated mother
Day after day
Sing Ging Ging
And Something More.
