by Kirsty Elliot
Even though you stayed up all night
and baked her favorite cookies
then delivered popsicles to her in the bath
as she tried to relax her pink rose
while sounding like a wounded wolf
in the forest, just like the Brazilian
prenatal yoga teacher showed her
and though you took away silver bowls
of her vomit as the contractions waned
and tried to cheer her sp
after the midwife said only six centimeters,
when you are in the same room as a woman
in thick dark bright shining labor
no pants on wrapped in a flannel sheet moaning,
don’t attempt to send positive vibrations
by sitting quietly, cross-legged before her
because you might get scratched or strangled.
Don’t ask her if she wants something
just bring it
make sure the temperature is perfect
she is wandering down some dark hallways
tonight, she is in the jungle.
TWO FRIENDS WITH
TWO BEAUTIFUL BELLIES:
A PHOTOGRAPHIC ESSAY OF REENA SINGH AND ZARAH MARTZ
Reena and Zarah attended one another’s blessingway ceremonies and birthed each of their babies on the same day—on the new moon of November!
