First Night (Poetry)

Only I can tell you how it was
for I was there from beginning to end —
I had no choice in the matter
any more than you did
but of course, you don’t remember
                                        any of it.

I was watching TV when it started
out of the blue — water gushing
and I phoned a friend for help.
Strange, the car ride to the hospital
then all the prodding and poking and hooking up
to machines that beeped both heartbeats —
yours and mine ...

It was a busy time — lots of deliveries
I dozed between contractions
hearing the labour screams of mothers and the cries
of all those newborns as they arrived.
The night was full of noise indoors
while outside the dark was birthing wind and rain.

You made your entrance around five a.m.
with very little fuss
your first night show
although you’ve no recollection, so
I’ll record it here as memoir
for the both of us.