Image: That Poignant Moment (here)
The day dawned early
A day earlier it had all started
She complained of searing pain
Inexperienced I could only lament
Heard say around the abdomen
Seeing it then for the first time
Twisting and turning, grimacing
Heavens dropped from the sky
This has to be it, I sighed
I stepped on the gas
As fast as I could manage
In no time she was in good hands
Snugly between the sheets
Assurance all round
the doctor, the nurse
This was quite normal,
they said in unison
Intermittent pains through the night
She took it bravely
That I could see
I got back early the next morning
She had been rolled in
I made a request to be by her side
Garbed in the hospital attire
I held her hands and waited
Immobile, manacled more or less
She could still manage a smile
Dr. McCoy, eminent gynae
Kept repeating, ‘it’s ok, love
It’ll only take a minute, love
Hold your breath, love
Push, yes, push, love
There you are!
A clattering of sounds followed
Scissors, stainless steel containers
Shuffles of feet
Movements of nurses
A slap on the butt
A shrill cry
Oh! such a wonderful sound
Hearing it then for the first time
What an accomplishment!
My loving wife, Shadah
My first-born, Adura a gift
A bundle of joy with blessings
from God, the Almighty
Brian at d'Verse: Poetics
what a wonderful gift, to see our child brn fresh and anew into this world. i remember the birth of both of my boys as if it were yesterday. my oldest took forever getting here, and my youngest nearly ran right out. ha.
ReplyDeleteso did you all home birth? it wounded like the birth happened before you got to the hospital. Yikes. Not sure I could do that.
hope you are well. was great to see you again after so long.
brian
So beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderfully poem, written to perfection.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
A wonderful and precious experience Hank!
ReplyDeleteYour experience comes across so fresh, I wondered if it was a recent birth, Hank. If so, congratulations! So amazing to be at the birth. I like the way you captured the ‘clattering of sounds’ in the lines:
ReplyDeleteScissors, stainless steel containers
Shuffles of feet
Movements of nurses
A slap on the butt
A shrill cry
Oh! such a wonderful sound
And I love the name you have given your first-born.