Now that I Am Forever with Child

How the days went

While you were blooming within me

I remember each upon each—

The swelling changed planes of my body—

And how you first fluttered, then jumped

And I thought it was my heart.

How the days wound down

And the turning of winter

I recall, with you growing heavy

Against the wind. I thought

Now her hands

Are formed, and her hair

Has started to curl

Now her teeth are done

Now she sneezes.

Then the seed opened.

I bore you one morning just before spring—

My head rang like a fiery piston

My legs were towers between which

A new world was passing.

From then

I can only distinguish

One thread within running hours

You . . . flowing through selves

Toward you.