you implant a child in me the way
an angel implanted mary

as you unlatch you dribble on the sheets
crawl up to rest your head upon my belly
in the warm glow of a Sunday morning

you lie there and listen for months
as she grows
in the sunlight streaming through the blinds
you massage my tummy to
feel her feet
and when you kiss me you watch
my eyes for our glint that will also be hers

i shift in the bed to take my place for her coming
i feel her wriggling and pushing to get out
and meet the world to meet you
but you are gone
to get something from the other room did you say

i guide her and she guides me as her head emerges
i reach out a hand to protect her and support her
straining and stretching my muscles
we birth
we lie bloody and sweaty in the warm evening air