these scars are yours
this silver-streaked belly I
hide
you did this
you
stretched the sinews
of these hip bones
while they held you
strong
you
compressed
the ribs, the cartilage between
the ribs
strangled
these lungs, and I
I reached my arms overhead
held
my breath
pulled
the ribcage out
of the hips
so you could sleep
and in sleeping
dream
in dreaming
grow
and you
tore
this flesh
broke
bones as you emerged
from this body blood-beautiful with my blood
choking
on me, inhaling
breath that was mine
and still you
ate
this body
drank
from heavy breasts made heavy
by you
and now
lifetimes later I
touch
your cheek that has become mine
smell
your hair with lungs you gave back
full
and I
am
reborn.
This poem also part of this week's One-Shot Wednesday at One Stop Poetry
Angie,
ReplyDeleteYour beautifully words enable me to see that GOD has to be, if in any fleshly form, a mother. Chuck :)
A "blood-beautiful" poem. Captures the reality of birth with realism rather than romanticized notions. The repetition with the words blood and heavy add weight to the lines, which is fitting considering theme. Great One Shot
ReplyDeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeletejust WOW!! you've captured this mystery of birth more than wonderul - i'm just speechless - kudos!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree: WOW! Sometimes it's all there is to say ...WOW!
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful words took me back to my first born. The moment he announced his presence. The 9 months of growing. The moment of taking birth, being part of human world. Becoming more beautiful every day. You make me see, feel it again. Beautiful poem, Angie!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing poem! "Blood-Beautiful" is such a startling and provocative image. What I like and find rather edgy and almost dark is the newborn's power over the mother. It is the newborn who seems to have agency here. A fantastic love poem! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful piece with a vivid depiction of the realities of birth. Creative and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteFrom first word to last - & all words in between, that is one beautiful poem, loaded with the agonies & the ecstasies of pregnancy, childbirth & beyond.
ReplyDeleteI like this - so honest and real, full of love.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you joining in with the One Stop crowd. (You're in good company!)
I'm glad you enjoyed my Sylvia Plath poem. I'm proud of it, and that's not something I say very often. (Who am I? Just read my posts)
...born and reborn / full circle / unbroken cord of love / a mother / and child...
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Angie. // Peter
I enjoyed reading this.
ReplyDeleteIt is such a beautiful poem..and something only a woman can relate to. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone, for taking the time to stop by and share in my words. Being a mother is one of the coolest things I've ever done...so is writing it down.
ReplyDeletea little late in arriving here, i think, but find the earthy/transcendent/physical/transformative nature of this piece perfect to describe a birth (granted i've not experienced it firsthand, but...) anyway, i really enjoyed it. :)
ReplyDeleteFirst time I read your storys and I have to say wow I really like it
ReplyDeletethe part that takes my breath away:
ReplyDeleteI reached my arms overhead
held
my breath
pulled
the ribcage out
of the hips
so you could sleep
and in sleeping
dream
in dreaming
grow
and you
tore
the momentum that builds up when I read it and the presence of woman and mother both significant and as important and the intimacy of your personal journey and the art of sharing it a vulnerable honesty, not mushy vulnerability, spikey, fierce vulnerability....