Motherhood Arrives

Photo by Shirota Yuri on Unsplash

Just in time, rounding the corner full throttle
screeching to a halt before the front lawn
trailing a faint cloud of friction, cigarette,
red wine, rug burn,
whispy as the faint echoes
of late-night childless conversation.

Doors burst open, wadded
diapers roll onto the grass
a pacifier smacks the gutter
the wind picks up wet wipes
vehicle to door: tiny spoons, burp cloth
gnawed plastic, countless dry crackers
bottles beyond all stepping over.

All manner of pounding then
every 4 am hallway shuffle
every torn knee, spider bite
bruised finger, midnight hungry wail
even the anxious silence

And finally, after all that commotion
days as measured as the first quick
blood shushing heartbeats
womb snug.