First Born

Image: Sourced from Wikimedia Commons (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

Note: This was meant to be a reply to Mary,Serena and Brian, the early comments received  But I decided to include it here as some sort of an epilogue. There are lots to tell. It would be relevant I think to other subsequent comments as well.

"It was an experience like no other! I was told it would be good to be by Shadah's side. I was holding her right hand throughout.  Both our hands were sweaty and I was whispering lots of things which I don’t quite remember now, mostly soft prayers, barely audible. Beads of sweat slowIy appeared at the forehead and trickled down. More on my forehead than on Shadah’s!

I could sense the fright in her despite her brave attempts to smile to me. I was really glad I was there physically giving all the support. Which I thought was nothing much then ( but she later confided it meant everything to her)

I was on her side, I didn’t see what Dr McCoy was doing. I dreaded it. I thought I might faint or I might be in the way. I peeked back only to see his gloved hands stitching when it was nearly over. Phew squared!"

Written for Fred's d'Verse Poetics: First times