Mother and Child

Martha bandaged another finger,
grimacing at the pain from the cut
and her feet that bored the weight
of a child too sick to rest.

She laboured over the stove
and remembered the pressure
of her growing womb
against the tumor that forced
tears streaming from her eyes.

She ladled porridge into a Micky bowl
and stood it on the table to cool.
As she rested her aching back on a wicker chair,
she remembered the reward
for the decision not to take painkillers.

“Mama” came from a now happy bear
pounding his paws, against the side of his pen.
His smile was like honey on her lips.

(27.03.2006)
(revised 30 July 2006)

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Mother and Child

Martha bandaged another finger,
grimacing in pain from the cut
and her feet that had bore the weight
of a child too sick to rest.

She laboured over the stove
and remembered the pressure
of her growing womb
against the tumor that had forced
hot tears from her eyes.

She ladled porridge into a Micky bowl
and stood it on the table to cool.
As she rested her aching back
on a wicker chair, she remembered
the decision and consequences,
not to take painkillers.

“Mama” came from a happy bear pounding
his paws, against the side of his pen, for food.
His smile, like starlight, lit up the room
and lifted her up to the clouds.

(30 December 2005)