After Birth
The silent cry of an American mother in sestina form
week one
she finds herself almost all alone after
friends and family leave celebrating her womb
now empty and the line between the beautiful
curled infant creature and herself
is still blurred as she brings the new soul to
her breast day after day after being born
week two
the pain continues long after baby was born
but no one told her much about the after
time when everyone comes to
see the baby and forgets the womb
that teleported a soul—everyone but herself
forgets but the baby is beautiful
week three
she wonders if she will ever feel beautiful
again or if like other mothers after baby is born
she will forget the makeup and the clothes, forget herself
like her own mother forgot how hard it is after
passing a soul through her womb
and didn't prepare her daughter to
week four
everyone expected her to
bounce back to the same beautiful
woman she was before her womb
stretched and worked for a soul to be born
so of course she did day after
bloody day all by herself
week five
never a moment to herself
never a moment to
think about what happens after
every moment poured into the beautiful
soul still newly born
and fresh from still-aching womb
week six
it used to be her womb
belonged only to herself
before it let a soul be born
it was her own intimate space to
receive and now she wonders if she will ever again receive that beautiful
happily ever after
epilogue
The mother was born the day her child left her womb,
And after... After she didn't even know herself,
But the self she came to know was beautiful.
About the Creator
Paul and Jordan Aspen
Professionally, we help entrepreneurs get other people to sell for them through the power of social proof. Learn more at civanpro.com
Personally, we write... stories, poems, educational articles and more. Read more here on Vocal
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