Labor Watch

Dawn breaking,

Oblivious to dusk.

Stars fading,

and the Moon has waved

goodbye.

When did it say hello?

Resident cats watching over the new mothers,

purring to greet the daylight.

Pens skating over silver charts,

clanking with the promise of respite.

But I did not get to see the sunrise,

and I did not hear the birds.

I did not feel the breath

of morning breeze

against my face.

Respite would not be for another 5 hours.

Instead I’ve held another person’s breath

in my aching hands,

like rope,

in a tug of war with Death.

Instead I’ve seen a different kind of Sun

rising from between a mother’s legs.

Instead I heard a different kind of music

thumping against my stethoscope

as the Resurrection nears:

the silent thunder-drumming

of hearts

reaching up to heaven

proclaiming the cry

of Imminent Liberation.