UP ALL NIGHT WITH CONTRACTIONS
Stephen Shooster, 1995 Ode to my first daughter, Carly
Up all night with contractions, I could not feel the pain, Mommy had reactions to your quest for fame, Daddy simply watched and waited though Mommy’s pain was jaded, Tired, Wired and Aggravated Mommy felt the pain, Every few minutes she huffed and puffed ‘till Mommy’s pain abated. Up all night with contractions the morning finally came, Mommy had been medicated and still your quest for fame, Daddy, sleepy hung right with it baby to be born, Nurses poked, machines a joke “Delivery in the Morn.” Epidural saved your Daddy from your Mom- my’s scorn! Up all night with contractions the cervix opened wide, Mommy pushed with the reaction giving her great pride, Mommy wore her best sunglasses Daddy, a baseball cap, Midwife enters, sweet as Mollassas experience fills the gap “Push Diane, Push with the actions,” I see the baby slight.” “Push Diane, Push Diane with the actions... Let the baby see the light, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7... 8,9,10 Deep breath, baby’s head is squeezed and slimy
Mommy pushes with might, and baby moves slightly forward thirsting for- ward thirsting for the light, Daddy counts, Diane encouraged makes room for baby’s life, mommy pushes! Daddy coaches! Midwife, “You’re doing great!” Nurse is watch- ing, Daddy’s patient Mommy’s tired but right, Push, the baby squeezed and slimy enter the head to light, Head just lies there, body just waits and flop here comes an arm Reaching in their flop comes the other one, Daddy reaches, under the shoulder... slimy and skinny Daddy reaches down. Slowly, gently pulling baby, the body’s coming roun’, Daddy amazed presents the baby to her Mommy’s right, A cord it follows pulsing a lifeline Midwife clamps it tight, Daddy cuts and baby is given... its own life... cleaning, caring, placenta comes next and Mommy’s just relaxed, 18 hours later, everything is over or Everything has just begun. Welcome Carly, meet your family Jason, Jaime, and Jed Welcome Carly, Welcome Carly... welcome to the light Welcome Carly, Welcome Carly awaken from... Contractions in the night!
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