Barren by Regina McIntosh (North Carolina)

Blood – rich whispers of crimson,
Like flames melting the feelings
beliefs alive, grief that spelled
Out the word – I n f e r t i l e
Infertility wrenched beauty from my life,
Erasing the stars from the night,
Darkening my heart – but I survived

Yes, I remember
I was young one day,
Yearning, aching – praying
Begging for one smile from a baby,
A smile that told me I’d been right…
Love would- love could save me
​

Yet, I remember
The nights, sleepless and silent,
Biding my time, tears
Flowing to remind me why
I couldn’t know the beautiful
Beneath eyes that shined
With a child’s love, a child’s adoring
 
Blood – dark and crimson,
Pouring out the hope, the anticipation
Pregnancy never came to me,
The girl who worried about never knowing
Throughout history, the giggling glory
Childish antics and childhood joys
 
I never will know the love that might have been
Mine if fate had brought to life, from my womb
The soul of an infant, a smile that sent me
From solitary confinement to the jungles of beautiful​