Best Midwives Poems
an early morning rise,
up the stairs
walk into the bathroom
in the sink
a small stain of blood.
less than a measure of yesterday
pulling a baby out of the womb into my arms.
on the sheets
a small stain of blood.
midwives wrap
my first born
snug and warm.
when her mother
finally gets her initial fill
she hands me this precious
new life.
i hold her knowing
there is nothing,
nothing!,
nothing...
nothing.,
nothing-
better then this moment!,
sweet scented perfection!,
lulls me into a peaceful bliss.
as she grows,
i spend my best times with her
and later her sister too.
my daughters own me
lock,
stock
and
barrel.
Ali?
i still see your
baby green eyes
reaching out to me.
i still smell your
childhood scent.
i can still taste
your hopes and dreams.
i can still touch
your youth as if it were now,
hear your tiny voice
"daddy i love you but you're my best friend too".
there is nothing,
nothing!,
nothing...
nothing.,
nothing-
better then this moment!,
you're now twenty two.
in the sink?
a small stain of blood.
in your bedroom
cocaine,
syringes,
...everywhere.
i clean
carefully picking them up.
i know you know you're playing
russian roulette with your life.
the drug convinced you
your life isn't worth living.
that's what drugs do.
they're that snake in the garden of eden
and you know eve ate that apple
and you know she sacrificed everything
for a fruit that would never taste that good again.
evil always presents itself as the only choice
while good seems too tough an alternative
but the truth is, the harder you have to work for it
the better it feels and it holds its feel with nothing to chase.
you can't hear me
the monster deeply
imbedded in you.
but Ali i love you
and Ali my heart weeps
and on my chest sits
a small stain of blood!
June 3 2015
Armand
Eve, the mother of all mankind,
Adam found his helpmeet in her.
Old Sarah, through faith, was confined.
Rebecca, the first twins’ mother.
Shiphrah and Puah, brave midwives
Saved Hebrew children, fearing God.
Fearless Jochebed hid her child,
Because of her, Moses survives.
Rahab hid spies for she was awed
By the true God, who on her, smiled.
Like Deborah, who could you find?
Her bold judgement caused quite a stir.
Jael, Heber’s wife, was brave of mind,
She killed Sisera on a spur.
Naomi was a good mother
To her daughter-in-law named Ruth.
Ruth left her all to follow God,
Was one of Jesus’ ancestors.
Prayerful Hannah in her youth
Gave child Samuel back to God;
Intelligent Abigail soothed
King David’s wrath, became his wife.
The young maid of Israel smoothed
Naaman’s healing from leprous strife.
Daring Queen Esther without fear,
Saved the Jews from being wiped out.
What can I say of blessed Mary?
She bowed to God’s will with all cheer.
Dorcas, Lydia did not pout,
Active were they in church early.
Women from all walks of life are
Found in the Bible to teach us,
Each, in her own way, is a star,
A vessel for God, a great plus;
Rhoda, Priscilla and others,
All are equally paramount,
Only a few have I mentioned,
Sisters, daughters, wives and mothers,
There are so many, I can’t count,
Let’s learn from them as intentioned.
14th April 2022
(8 syllables per line
Rhyme Scheme: ababcdecde)
{The role played by women in Biblical history is truly great. No wonder Lord Jesus Christ revealed His resurrected self first to them}
For Beata Agustin's "Ode to Women" contest
"She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."
What shall we make of Genesis 2: 23b
As it is written, it seems preposterous to me.
Time has proven quite the opposite is true
Despite how accepted the literalist point of view.
Midwives and OB-GYNs throughout our history's span
Have never brought a woman from the womb of a man.
TOP 100 POEMS on Poetry Soup
2021
Thunder and lightning ruled the black night
As the frightened young mother struggled
Beads of sweat ran down her pretty face
The old midwife calmly sponged off sweat
She hummed a lullaby to soothe her pain
Praying that the husband would be back soon
Five miles to travel in treacherous weather
Seeking the one doctor for hundreds of miles
Twelve hours of labor now seemed like days.
Fell trees and shaved off roof tops, toppled by whipping winds
Rising rivers were swollen, and flooded make shift roads
Endless rain poured like there would be no end
Meanwhile her unborn child lay bridged as it battled for release
Suddenly the door burst open and the doctor rushed in
His clothes sticking to his skin; there was no time to change
With his palm he felt her forehead asking pertinent questions
He and the old midwife tried manually to turn the exhausted child
At each attempt, mother’s painful cry was heard in the distance
She gave one guttural scream and usherd her baby into the world
The child, born limp, barely breathing as the mid wife took her away
He starred into her eyes, and knew that she was beyond his help
He brought the new born to lie in her mother’s warm arms
The silence was noticeable; the raging storm had passed
The sound of light rain, now a comfort, gently tapped upon tin roof
In a soft, weak voice she called her husband and managed a smile
Then she blessed her child with words from a mother’s heart
“May you be a light, swift as lightning when days grow dark.”
“May you have wisdom and foresight beyond your days”
“May your heart nurture and remain open to love”
“Like rain, may you bring life to all “
“Born this stormy night, your name will be “Rain”.
~*~
By : Audrey Carey
Note: Imagination at work:) Written for Constance's "Rain, The Story" Contest.
My imagination took me to some little village in Africa. This scene is played out in
many villages where health care is non-existent. However, there's always, thanks
to God, a wise, caring "midwife" to help mothers during delivery.
Everyday, countless miracles are performed by God through "midwives"!
At the end of the world great bears sleep under drifts,
Cardinal crowned Cranes sing and dance in joyous union.
Long winters blossomed by colourful spring and autumn.
Sweet summers vibrate with labouring European bees
As rowdy Sika deer wander this hardy land of contrasts.
Dragons breath seeps from deep earth’s core to sculpt
And create a soulful oasis within turmoil and bedlam.
Here the Ainu live in concord with nature’s seasons.
Bowing to midwives of our world protecting life’s wonders
I salute your gifts you leave us though I will never see
Your wondrous habitat of Hokkaido’s land of extreme,
To witness the land where great bears sleep under drifts.
Cock got virgin spouse
they spent nice times together
she sang melodies to boyfriend
but soon she was pregnant
labor moment came with pains
Cock went to maternity ward
asking for space to labor the child
but one child it was not
One, two, three, many children
girlfriend gave birth
midwives were tired, not Cock
eyes- babies did not have
mouth- babies did not have
nose babies did not have
body- babies did not have
only round oval they were
But cock was not moved
he consoled spouse on and on
“21 days we shall be happy”
It happened; beautiful babies
came from manger
hail-storm gathered, kite licked its lips
and mongoose wagged its tail
the Cock never worried
he kept on scouting and crowing
alerting all that he was super power
On return, first thing, I view
my garden with sleepy eyes.
Straight away, I summerise,
nothing died.
I pull a few offending weeds,
as I go along the paths.
New colours cream,lilac,red and yellow.
Daffidols bulbs that split in halves.
As I reach the cherry tree,
a tear comes to my eye.
Buds of pink, Mum's birthday,
May 2nd......She died.
Bulbs I planted last October
are trying to break free.
From that poor clay soil I
put them in.....silly me.
My rose tressles have blown down.
Taking rose plants with them.
The baby orange tree, in hothouse
has babies hanging from the stem.
My garden gives me so much pleasure.
You would not understand.
Unless you tend one, just like me.
Midwives to nature....unplanned.
Way down south at the edge of the swamp,
Was a little town known as Backwater.
A peaceful town that most folks found,
Was a good place to raise sons and daughters.
A plague hit the town and people fell sick,
And soon they were dropping like flies.
No doc could be had and the fever was bad,
So they called on the preacher and midwives.
They did what they could but it wasn't enough,
And folks were in fear for their lives.
One woman knew of a spinster who,
Had a sister who lived nearby;
Deep in the swamp, she never came out,
Shunned people and kept to herself.
Some thought her a witch, at best an old b-- h,
But right now they needed her help.
They sent her word through her sister and said,
For whatever she'd do she'd be paid.
She decided she'd make for her sister's sake,
The trip into town and give aide.
When she arrived no one could say,
Next meeting she was just there.
'Mid the fightin', and cussin', and much more discussin',
She pushed back screeching her chair.
My name's unimportant as are you all.
I came at my sister's call.
I'll cure your fever and then I will sever,
All ties and binds with you all.
She mixed up a brew amid the town square,
Soon the smell permeated the air.
Not really bad from the whiff that I had,
T'was the medicine we would all share.
Well the people got well and no one else died,
And the two sisters packed up their wares.
We'd best be off one said with a scoff,
Hang around here if you dare.
The town bid them stay, please don't go away,
For sure you will live like a queen;
But they took their pay and left the same day,
Never no more to be seen.
The townsmen searched high and searched for them low,
To bring them both back to the hollow.
They found on a post a note from their host,
We've gone, do not try to follow.
ANGEL MIDWIVES - SHIPRAH AND PUAH
Two women who were fearless and bold
Saved little lives from death's threshold,
Their harmless hands were sure bloodstained,
When they brought boy babies to life's fold -
But a glimmer of hope in dismal crisis remained.
They feared God and disobeyed the king,
Helped ladies through conception painstaking,
Gave heed to the baby boys' piteous cries,
Let them live overruling orders heartbreaking -
Blessed with homes, they were two angels in disguise.
10/08/17
NOTE: This poem is inspired by EXODUS 1:15-21
15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:
16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.
20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
Joseph had died
and a new Hebrew king did come
But the Israelites were so frustrated and tired
Of being under the proverbial gun
The Pharoah the head Egyptian in charge
Then made a decision
He order all of the midwives
To go out and do a kill mission
But the midwives who were women of God
Defied this horrifying request
As it went against everything they believed in
Which is sacred and blessed
And because Shiprah and Puah the two women who
Embraced their civil disobediency
Hebrew genocide was prevented
And Moses lived to give his people the victory
Embrace your calling
By being confident in your position
To have an attitude of such magnitude
In fulfilling your mission
Allowing nothing and no one
To set you apart
From the purpose and the promise
That God has placed in your heart
Embrace your calling
By being audacious, brave and cocksure
About your destiny
And what for you God has in store
Now standing courageous
Unshakeable and bold
Only doing that which
By the Holy Spirit you've been told
To not follow the dictates
Of petty and evil men
Trusting in the Lord God
To always give you the win
Embrace your calling
By staying faithful and true
To the direction and design
That God has determined for you
EMBRACE YOUR CALLING
Woman impregnated a man
Is normal to see pregnant women
If men go about with big tummies
They must be filled with foods/drinks
Else it's a malady/sickness
A mystery ever seen in life
Woman impregnated a man
I've covered my pregnancy all the while
But my EDD is at hand
My months are over
I'm in 'labour' and it pains much
Which hospital do I visit?
Where is the 'labour' room?
For my save delivery
Where are the doctors?
Oh! The midwives and the nurses
If I'm delayed Mother,
I stand the risk of still birth and complication
I thought here could be my delivery room
But it's just too small
Even the whole world is too small
To witness the delivery of your babies
I gaze to the heavens
My life time so minute to push forth
In 'labor' and deliver
Christ bore all my pains on the cross
And you identified with it at my birth
Christ sacrificed His life a ransom for me
Yet you gave your womb for me
Nine months
You made your womb my first house
There you kept me and took no rent
In there you made a bed for me
Where I laid and slept quietly
There I dictated all you eat
And all you ate and drank
You shared with me
While I grew in secret
The maternity-a place of four chambers/rooms
Mother, just a room and
I'll deliver to you
Because the babies are yours
You impregnated me with touches of care and good morals
And it's formed babies of love, faith and hope
It's your HEART-there I know is save
Sweet mother my sweet Heart
The Heart of my Heart
Who hatched the egg of my life
The greatest gift I can ever give to you
Is to give my heart to CHRIST
(EDD- Expected Date of Delivery)
Didicated to
Aderounmu V.A.
women are the backbone
of a multitude of success
because women are known
to always give their very best
women have given birth
to those who have grow up to be
righteous men and women with godly personalities
those who promote the agenda of God
those who have grace instilled in their hearts.
women can give birth to destinies
in the midst of adversity
women also give birth to those
who in the spirit tend to soar free
women have been known to reach down
in the womb of time by fulfilling prophecies
because when women stand by
there's no telling what will come to be
women give birth to ideas, to causes
and to plans
women stand back and stand by
as they hold to God's unchanging hands
many say women are weak
but little do they know
that giving birth is no small feat
it's a miraculous godly show
when women stand by
genocide is thwarted
the plans of the devil's disciples
then become distorted
as God will use your present enemy
to restore your future promise
for God is in the midst to reveal
those who are dishonest
midwives have always had a special place
when it comes to God's design
those women who stand by to help
give birth
when life is on the line
yet Pharaoh tried to coerce them
to kill little baby boys
but two midwives refused to take part
in that mission to destroy
when the women stand by
life becomes precious and preserved
When the women stand by
we always get what we deserve
positioned to now be a catalyst of change
an opportunity to now represent
placed to now seek your purpose
and give rise to your testament
so recognize your place in this world
and discover your godly mission
and no matter what path
you choose to take,
make sure God is part of that decision
when the women stand by,
life will always be sustained
because Shiprah, Puah, Miriam & Harriet
stood firmly on God's name
when the women stand by
Waiting for baby. 16/07/2018.
The hospital bag is ready in the hall. Oh the excitement and the stress of it all. Will we need an ambulance ? or will we get to the hospital in time after the waters have broke?
Midwives, checking weight, blood pressure, pee samples. It is like a science lesson. Going to ante-natal classes together, bonding, breathing, panting, when to push ? T o take pain relief, gas and air, something stronger, mines a gin and tonic !
About the contractions, count down, bear down, to baby's arrival, Baby kicking inside like a giant frog, punching my insides at night. Feeling like a watched pot ready to pop.
Its a worry too how will we feel, to be parents, will we cope, have a scan see the little person on the t .v screen, we don't want to know the sex, keep it a big secret.
The family's becoming a pain in the neck asking questions, dates, names, what schools its going to? The nursery stands ready painted yellow, cot in place, waiting for its bundle of love to arrive.
first child born 12/06/1987.
Whenever I look into a mirror
I see you: Dad and Mum.
I savour the pangs of the damage you’ve done.
I become drunk with hate.
I break the mirror, hoping to break your faces.
But then I see more faces,
shades of your faces in diversity.
Then I realize I’d just broken an innocent mirror.
I try gathering the broken pieces,
but they never come together again.
What is broken is broken.
When I peer into the broken mirror,
I see multiple faces,
I hear multiple voices of me,
I see a thousand bodies of me.
My friends do not know which one is me.
I don’t even know my real friends.
I’m a shadow of everything abnormal.
Broken mirrors often remain broken forever.
Stigmatized.
Traumatized.
Swept away.
And should any lucky broken piece be recycled,
it might never be mirror again.
I was born guilty!
Call me a broken mirror.
You can’t mend my broken pieces.
Call me a bullet wound.
My scars, eternal with sore memories.
I am a prisoner of nuptial disaster
born guilty of a failed cosmetic marriage.
They say I’m guilty,
I wasn’t caught in the act,
but born looking guilty.
Mama said she’d have eloped in time.
but then I gatecrashed before she could sign her divorce papers.
Even before they paid her dowry.
She won’t forgive me for ruining her belly.
For engulfing her embryo and refusing to let go.
Even when she said no.
I thought it’d be a triumphant landing
But only the midwives cheered my arrival.
More of a routine ritual than a candid cheerio.
I looked back to whence I’d come,
but I can’t turn the hands of time.
Who Are WE but Who We Are…
We are the conscience of the heart;
custodians of its emotions—conjuring,
molding and etching its most sacred feelings
upon the canvas of time’s time;
We are devoted lexical midwives—
delivering depolarized doses
of liberated thoughts from wombs
of metrical, pregnant minds;
We are the dream catchers of the soul,
unflinching emissaries of truth’s truth,
unafraid—dispelling lies—exposing
hypocritical cries;
We are the mourners
and revelers of nations; sages
standing strong, silently screaming,
stimulating sleeping souls:
We are poets—griots of the word.