When you're giving birth

When you're giving birth

(to a world),

don't try to figure out

how close you are to being done

or how healthy your fruit is:

keep breathing;

accept a massage --

and depend on the ones around you

to tell you, you're doing great

Later, waking up,

you will be able to think;

for now, there is pushing and resting

Later, you and your baby will cry,

perhaps together, perhaps not for years.