Gapers Block : Peter Zelchenko's Party Line Archive

Avoiding the F Word
by Peter Zelchenko January 30, 2009

"Breathe in, breathe out" --
and so he does,
as laboredly as she,

Crackling in his
paper gown like
cellophane.

He inhales and,
afraid to stir
lest he disturb the web,

Silently looks
on as experts
synchronize.

With BABY PULSE
and MOTHER PULSE
in amber glamor bright,

He is standing
in the way of
beautiful.

Participate?
Why, certainly
I will; what can I do?

Move aside and
give her room to
calibrate.

In waiting rooms,
umbilicals
to nourish and enrich:

One breast-pump kit,
one diaper bag,
four bottles multihued:

All their little needs
slung on his
burden-back.

They've engineered
a place for him,
the manger's anteroom:

Exhale comes when
Three survive these
crouching months.