Your arrival comes as a surprise,
just as our babymoon was due to start.
I see panic in your mother’s eyes,
her hand on mine a clutching, crushing vise,
her back contorted in a mounded arc.
I stroke the sweat that burns with cruel surprise
and voice a counterpoint as sirens rise
and fall, murmuring with art-
less ease, “She’ll have her mother’s eyes,
my love, she’ll be bold, bright and wise …”
The rolling gurney forces us apart,
and her departure takes me by surprise.
My bruised hand throbs. There were no goodbyes.
I pace, a journey waiting for a start.
I only see your mother’s panicked eyes.
Finally, the door – I hear your cries –
My arms make a cradle by my heart,
where your arrival comes as a surprise.
Alone, I see you have your mother’s eyes.
About the Creator
Sonia Heidi Unruh
I love: my husband and children; all who claim me as family or friend; the first bite of chocolate; the last blue before sunset; solving puzzles; stroking cats; finding myself by writing; losing myself in reading; the Creator who is love.
Enjoyed the story? Support the Creator.
Subscribe for free to receive all their stories in your feed. You could also become a paid subscriber, letting them know you appreciate their work.
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.