Empty Vessel

Baby sank out of me.
Left this vessel
a
loose sack
Of skin and fingernails.

Body wasted.
Ruined.
Set aside to serve the next generation.

Oh.
What.
A.
Miracle.
Birth. is.

This one will grow up to be something great.

All that purple skin you will soon forget when you look into her eyes
for the first time.

But.
Every morning.
Every bath.
With.
Every.
Single.
change of clothes.
I am reminded
This vessel
has
served
Its purpose.

Mankind will continue on.
All
because of me.
The earth overpopulated.

You’re a mother now, dear.

You can’t do that.
Your life is changed now.
You don’t live just for you
Anymore.
Oh, when you look into her eyes for the first time

It won’t matter.

You live to serve her now.

They tell me. Over. And. Over.
And
Over.

No one cares
If you have stretch marks
Dear.

The Baby is all that matters now.

--Lindsay Strait 10-6-2010