battle of birth

                                                hers

                                                is the body

                                                thru which u

                                                (torpedoed your

                                                way from seed

                                                to inception--from

                                                cosmic spirit to breathing

                                                flesh blood & bones

                                                she

                                                kept u secure

                                                in belly of life--

                                                nurtured your body with

                                                her body day after week after

                                                month until that final assault on

                                                birth assuming position of surrender

                                                breath-by-breath

                                                she crushed

                                                the wrath of

                                                mother's pain

                 captain to crew! captain to crew! man your station!

                                                sir!

                                                with all

                                                due respect

                                                to u the Officer

                                                In Charge of life in

                                                general--have u

                                                forgotten the battle of

                                                birth & who laid down

                                                so u could stand tall