Seven years ago today, I went into labor at the deli counter in the Price Chopper. It was the one day ever that they didn’t offer to help me out to the car with my groceries (she remembers, vindictively)… which was okay, since this little lady didn’t arrive till suppertime the next day.
Her birthday is also the day my mother persona was born. Up till then, I worried that said persona might not make an appearance; I’d sat through all the childbirth videos in Lamaze class thinking, “What greedy little monsters they are! Look at the agony they put their mothers through… and then they want to nurse right afterwards!!”
Then mine was born. The doctor held up the wet, huddled, terrified creature in the palm of his hand and said, “Say hello.” This totally new self ripped out from somewhere in my heart and vowed, “I promise I’ll take care of you! I promise it will be all right!!” That was that. No turning back.
I went looking for a poem, and the very first one I found was Anne Stevenson’s “Poem for a Daughter”:
‘I think I’m going to have it,’
I said, joking between pains.
The midwife rolled competent
sleeves over corpulent milky arms.
‘Dear, you never have it,
we deliver it.’
A judgment years proved true.
Certainly I’ve never had youas you still have me…
The rest is here. Poetry Friday is at The Simple and the Ordinary today.
8 responses so far ↓
TadMack // March 7, 2008 at 12:36 pm
This is really neat — and terrifying — poem a woman belongs to herself, until – and then she’s someone else’s forever.
“Say hello.” A simple, centering directive.
Happy Motherhood!
jama // March 7, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Adorable photo! Enjoyed the poem. So glad you have someone to “say hello” to!
cloudscome // March 7, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Happy birthday mama and girl! Darling picture and lovely poem.
Ruth // March 7, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Happy birthday and thanks for the poem! Apparently in Holland they congratulate the mother on the birthday of a child. I always think that is appropriate. So congratulations.
Christine M // March 7, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Great poem - and happy birthday to your daughter!
JW // March 7, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Tell her A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY from me… Card is on its way…
Sara // March 7, 2008 at 9:07 pm
They should teach this poem instead of Lamaze. (Just kidding. Maybe in addition to that breathing!)
Happy birthday to momma and child.
writer2b // March 8, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I love the idea of poems instead of Lamaze!
Thanks for the comments, all. Glad you liked the poem and photos.
Leave a Comment