Images of my life
and how it would pass
born of the perceptions of a boy
and then young man
watching his father's life pass
now broken
having fallen off the wall
struck the ground on its corner
and shattered
on my hands and knees
sifting through the pieces
I cannot be put back together
no despair
this is not the time for it
I have watched women give birth
assisted them in their labors
guided their deliveries
celebrated with them their creations
now I am pregnant with an unborn life
my own
and
am frightened of the pain and the unknown
of bringing it forward
I do not want any painkillers
though a good midwife would be welcomed
the process takes time
and
will not be altered by my impatience
no certainty as to outcome
I only know there is no turning back
my life
the new one
is about to be born
I think I finally understand
it is a thin veil between
a terrified grimace and an excited smile
breathe
breathe
push
