I never thought this was something I’d do,
although I enjoy it, that much is true.
The agony, the sweat, the relentless pain,
thinking you’ll give up, as each step felt like waking in the rain.
My birthing partner was with me, but not very good,
each rotation we took brought us back in a hook.
They cheered from the sidelines, “just breathe, just push,”
while I cursed every moment, each shove and each shush.
Every moment, a time bomb — will this be it?
A glimpse of light… and then the shadows hit.
“This is never going to happen, it’s just Braxton Hicks,”
I muttered in doubt through the laboring tricks.
Every day and every moment, thinking this is it!
Partner even checking, “can we celebrate, is it complete?”
No — it was crowning, but now it’s nowhere to be seen!
Hope was dwindling with no sleep, just pacing like a sheep in a dream
So I took matters into my own hands,
endless communicating in a language I didn’t understand.
Then my real partner took over and held my hand,
and that’s when it happened — the first sight, the first glimpse…
I’ve got a plan!
The last few hours have been relentless, bleeding ink from my hand, but now I\'m going to celebrate as my first book is about to land.
And yes, as it Bleeds, my art of the Ink has many more planned.