Silent Nursery

Silent Nursery

My body wracked with pain,
labour progressed too far to intercept.
Two lives cut short -
abruptly woken -
wrenched from my useless body,

Our son and daughter born
no strength to even cry.
They look perfect in every way
but inside they are too weak.
The nurse says
" you can hold them till they die".
I think
what careless words to speak.

I stare at their beautiful faces,
chests heaving -
struggling with every breath.
Tiny organs too under-developed,
they entered life too soon.
If only a few weeks more;
But hospital policy dictates -
it must be twenty four!

So, no special care for you
no tubes or incubators
to help you stay alive.
Instead we cradle your fragile bodies
and pray that by some miracle
you might survive.

All we have left to remind us
of our short time together
a few instant photos.
Two cards (one pink, one blue),
bearing imprints
of your tiny fingers and toes,
One girl, one boy.

My husband holds me
And together, silently, we mourn.
Your memory
engraved in our hearts -
Adam and Lorna - our firstborn.