The Birthright

"Push! Push! You're almost there!"

And it hurts like nothing has hurt before. 

Glitter agony of tendons strained. 

Muscles whip-cracked. 

Sinews twisted fuse-wire snakes.

Spit-lash forked tongues.

Lick with fire the ovoid belly.

In starburst viscera and uterine fluid. 

Burning.

"He's here!"

Blue-streaked with plasma, amniotic. 

Projectile split of membrane, tissue shock.

Screaming his right to the miracle.

Howled anguish.

Pain from day one.

She slumps.

Cold sweat of exhaustion.

Ice fever. 

And prays. 

The pain has not just begun.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2005

Poem

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