Your First Breath

For nine wonderful months
You grew inside my womb
I would watch your little hands and feet
Make tents out of my belly
For a first time mother
Carrying you
Had been easy
Almost a sensual experience
I loved having you there.

Then came that day
While folding laundry
You broke the fragile barrier of life fluid
And as it ran down my legs
My heart
Was then prepared
To meet this person I created
With the help of God.

I lay for two days
Without food or water
Chemical nastiness coursing through me
My spine was numbed
Your heart
Was slowing down
With each feeble push I gave
The Doctor was worried.

Half a day later
I lay on a steel table
My arms splayed out at my sides, morphine-numbed
I felt the pain
The Doctor
Pulled you out
And furiously worked to bring
You fully to life.

That moment I heard it
A faint little squeak
My heart seemed to explode with joy
Your life
Your first breath!
And they placed you beside me
You looked at me with sleepy eyes
You were finally here!