What is it about poetry that makes us feel so vulnerable? I haven’t written poetry for years, except for a couple pieces, but in my youth I wrote often. Not long ago, I ran across a poem I wrote in my adulthood. The thought of sharing it now scares me, though I’m not exactly sure why. It’s a little like singing in front of a crowd. Even after you’ve told them you can’t sing, once you get up there you are expected to at least carry a tune.
So here I am telling you that I can’t sing. This is just something I wrote years ago after my third child was born. I found, upon reading it again, that it moved me. It could have been any of my children, but for some reason I was inspired to write it at that time.
..~~*~~..
The Birth of a Child
All at once the pain subsided.
Relief wrapped its arms around me.
A baby boy was placed upon my breast;
warm, moist, perfect.
In his tiny presence
I felt small.
The debt was mine for the privilege.
I was perfect, the day was perfect,
and I shall never see another child as perfect.
He stared blankly at this world into which he had landed.
As I looked into his eyes,
I was at the same time reverent and frightened.
Not able to go back, not willing to move forward,
the world stopped for he and me.
And just for a moment, there were only the two of us.
Until they appeared again.
His father, the doctor, the nurse,
and pain.
Mitchell
April 25, 1991
September 2nd, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Your poem is lovely, it brings back the memories of the fear and joy mixed at the same time as i held each of my boys for the first time. I like your new look to the blog, although I will miss seeing your dogs each time I click on your pages.
September 3rd, 2013 at 12:41 pm
Thank you!
I thought of you when I replaced them. I think I will be changing the header often just to keep it looking fresh. So they may make another appearance!
September 3rd, 2013 at 5:49 pm
Now you have given me something to look forward to, I would enjoy seeing new headers from time to time.
September 5th, 2013 at 9:39 pm
😀
September 2nd, 2013 at 7:18 pm
This poem is magical, lovely, moving. Thank you for sharing with us.
September 3rd, 2013 at 12:41 pm
Thank you so much for the kind words.
September 3rd, 2013 at 8:54 am
A lovely poem Jean. Clever and im sure realistic, to begin and end with pain. I am sure the human race will have been wiped out long ago if the responsibility for childbirth was up to men alone.
September 3rd, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Ha! Thank you. That is something to wonder about, isn’t it? However, I think man’s place in childbirth is perfect just as it is 😉
September 3rd, 2013 at 2:05 pm
Beautiful 🙂 … (and I like the new layout)
September 5th, 2013 at 9:38 pm
Thank you (and thank you!)
September 6th, 2013 at 1:12 am
[…] When we talk about the little things that mean the most to us in life, some of those little things are pretty big. Jean shared a very moving poem she wrote after the birth of her one child. […]
September 6th, 2013 at 6:10 am
Thank you for the ping! I will be back to read and comment on your Friday Favorites . . .
September 6th, 2013 at 10:56 am
I guess you can sing too because the poem was lovely. It was easy to read and follow. A lot of poetry doesn’t capture me. I too like your new header. I’m not techy enough to figure out all the ways to move things around but I’ll get there in time. It looks fresh.
September 6th, 2013 at 4:40 pm
Thanks so much! It’s not a very abstract poem, and I don’t know if that makes it less sophisticated, but I’ve decided I’m glad I put myself out there — you know — took the risk. Fellow bloggers are all so kind.
Every time I pick a theme, I think it is the one I will never change again, but I do like this one.
September 7th, 2013 at 3:33 pm
Jean, I’ve just started following your blog. It’s so beautiful. I so appreciated your comment on my blog, on The Silk Thread. I’m late in getting to you and responding, but I want you to know that your posts and photos are so touching. And, of course, your name is very close to my heart!
September 7th, 2013 at 9:48 pm
There is no such thing as too late to respond when you have such kind things to say! I am so glad you have started following. Welcome!