the great push of life
made your water
splatter to the floor:

It was a hilarious sight
to see you holding a towel
in one hand

and the phone in the other
giggling
just like on our first date:

and I, running in circles,
a St. Vitus dance
of fear and happiness:

wondering what our child
would do when it was born
into a hard world

(scream or a breathless whisper?)

the car roared
and we tumbled
down the highway,

smiles pulled tight,

into a black hoop of night
encircled with stars.

©Peter Sierant