Consider the Waters<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Her water broke
\njust before the levees<\/p>\n
the warning signals trickling down her thighs
\nhad exceeded her expectations, although<\/p>\n
this was the second time, and she had
\ndamned the passage with sanitary napkins,<\/p>\n
created a wall that made her waddle,
\nthighs chaffed and burning<\/p>\n
the dipsy-doodle flesh bulging
\naround her panty lines.<\/p>\n
The cotton boundaries were no match
\nthe synthetic walls did not hold back<\/p>\n
this nation\u2019s birthing again
\nHer water broke<\/p>\n
just before the levees
\nso she took a shopping cart<\/p>\n
ride from the brother she\u2019d sometimes
\nbeen afraid of<\/p>\n
He put down the TV he was hauling
\nsayin\u2019<\/p>\n
I guess I\u2019ll watch the sky
\nto see what news is comin\u2019<\/p>\n
He asked her to hold on,
\nhold on, hold on \u2018cause<\/p>\n
He\u2019d already seen too much
\ntoo many gray water memories<\/p>\n
hold on
\nand he started running, humming<\/p>\n
Grandmother, he started singing daddy
\nHe told her to breathe<\/p>\n
that he knew about babies comin\u2019
\nand they do all right without<\/p>\n
water
\nHer water broke<\/p>\n
just before the levees
\nbefore the sound of betrayal and fear<\/p>\n
exploded across memory
\nHe told her
\nhold on<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jourdan Keith<\/a> is a VONA, Hedgebrook and Jack Straw alum. Voted 2007 Seattle\u2019s Poet Populist, her awards include Seattle\u2019s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, 2004 for the writing and solo performance of the play “The Uterine Files” and 2010 for her memoir Coyote Autumn<\/em> which is included in the anthology Something to Declare<\/em>.<\/a> A student of Sonia Sanchez, she is a playwright, storyteller and Seattle Public Library\u2019s first Naturalist-in-Residence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Consider the Waters Her water broke just before the levees the warning signals trickling down her thighs had exceeded her expectations, although this was the second time, and she had damned the passage with sanitary napkins, created a wall … Continue reading