New Life
By Jan Swann
I got it all wrong. Those magnificent protuberances
fist bumps and kicks I thought I recognised
moving in my belly like an otter
striving for air
desperate to break the surface.
I was sure you would get through.
But which part of you strained against the membrane
moving organs aside
resting on my fit-to-burst bladder?
A hand? A foot? An elbow?
Grown to larger than possible dimensions in my mind
thumping the drum tight skin
atoms resonating, movements magnified
by every beat of our two hearts.
I imagine I felt
a dancer, a boxer, musician, gymnast
but most of all I felt you, tiny lodger
biding your time, nesting, growing everything
getting ready for the first peek
into your new world.
Leaving your viscous time capsule behind
blood gathering
rushing into the light and life
of a celebration of you.
Jan Swann
Jan Swann is a Welsh poet living in Bristol. She appears at open mics and as a featured poet at events in and around the city. Jan has appeared on BBC Upload and been published in several online and print magazines/pamphlets such as Nuthatch Magazine, Black Nore Review, Writer Shed Press and Bonds – a book, exhibition and audio poetry installation for the city’s Lyra Poetry Festival.
Photo credit: Aditya Romansa
Apricot Press 