greta rose
in passions swell
in pleasure tensed
in arc of spine
one final thrust
is a life born
in love, we pray, does
a new soul breathe...
start to grow...
the first step on a pilgrimage
we all began
the very same way
in that instant, a trade made...
one life for two
a woman transformed
into a mother...
with hormone swings
and morning retch
with belly swell
and not-so-gentle press
does this being grow
re-arrange
make this womb it's home
each kick
each movement
each lap swum
in this watery world
gives hope
joy and wondering
what will it be
girl or boy-
"oh...it's a boy...” they bet...
I can tell...!"
("...like Hell...!”)
pride or joy or both
or neither, (God forbid)
tethered there
you live and breathe
and feed for two
your heart beats blood blue
in tiny perfect veins
this mini- you
and as life grows
it hears your voice
your lullaby in the night
your laughter, tears
worries, fears
knowing you
each movement assuring
all will be right
it makes demands
although unaware
and love burns hot with expectation
more room
more attention
more suffering it demands
and you give...
and give...
and give more...
your life, if asked
the final hours
the waiting game
the weariness
sleeplessness
desperation
then...
you scream in your head
"I can't do this!"
"I've changed my mind!"
always counting...
the months
the weeks
the days
the minutes
the pushes
one final yell
one last shove...
and she's there...
in your arms at last
the prettiest little "boy"
you've ever seen
you, breathless, enamored, stare
unaware
as strangers put you right
first breath
first cry
first sigh of relief
ten fingers
ten toes
cute perfect body...
beautiful
Greta Rose
8 lbs. -12 oz.
July 21, 2012
daughter of MY daughter
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Comments: 12
Thanks for sharing with Gather’s Luminous Writers & Artists where it's now featured.
CONGRATULATIONS, Grandfather Stephen, poet extraordinaire :)
“The greatest work of art created first by god and then by man, is the creation of life. The whole process is an amazing art in itself. The fact that it takes two artists, man and woman, each bringing their own parts of a pallet to create a work of art that not only has a piece of both artists but is also a living, breathing, ever-changing, piece of art with an identity of it’s own.”
Congratulations, Stephen....beautiful poem you wrote for your new granddaughter, Greta Rose.
Congrats Grandpa!
Congratulations to your family. You are all so very blessed.