helpless
helpless
lying naked washed in blood in a weary mother’s arms
filled with the future of a life yet still empty of any past
a dam of time stems the flood a tiny trickle sets alarms
who will will wield that knife which cuts the cord at last
whispers exhaled stir calm airs before wild cries erupt
as pursed lips wrinkle to start a first search for nurture
wounds soft kisses will balm now only waiting to corrupt
a ripe rapidly beating heart cannot understand the future
instinct spares the helpless child surrounded by dangers
steps immutable scale souls stretch from heaven to hell
ascent or descent into the wild gives safety of strangers
the cool streams or heated coals all that love can quell
within these moments of birth lie the echoes of a death
eye blinks away from the curse of a coming final breath