(This is a seven poem series that was directly inspired by my younger brother, Sam. I wrote a different poem based on my perception and experiences with him at each stage.)
Birth
It was a Friday.
Mom and Dad had been gone for days.
“Sometimes, having a baby takes
awhile,” my grandma explained.
I resented you for
taking so long.
I sat at my school desk,
waiting anxiously to leave.
Today was supposed to be the day.
Finally Dad arrived.
He took me to the hospital
and I first saw you
as a bundle of blankets
in mom’s arms.
I held you,
watched you sleep,
and quietly enjoyed
the new smell of your skin.
You helped my nine – year old mind
grasp the concept of existence.
Then you put my arm to sleep.
