Wonder Unimpeded

No remnants of boundaries

in the laboring hours.

In a fluid garment of

sweat and blood,

I am life-force unimpeded. 

Quietly I flow and churn,

an equinox of consciousness.  

My mind retreats inward;

a muscular twist

wrings it out again.

Withdrawing, emerging.

Adrift, anchored.  

Dark, light,

Change unimpeded,

Until the wringing grip holds fast,

and I am captive in the stark light,

and there is no shadow for relief,

and I regain my senses

and see my nakedness,

and agony crashes in,

and I despair,

but feel my hand being guided

into the blood, 

into the pain, 

to touch the 

downy head

of my son,

and discover

for the first time

wonder unimpeded. 

© Laura Seale, 2016

Photo by Evan-Amos
from Wikimedia Commons

I Remain Here (In Memory of Daniel Berrigan)

I remain here as I hear you have left.

I could be sad, but I am still inspired.

My own life can mean more than it has

Though I can never reach all you have done.

© Dennis Wright, 2016

Daniel Kerrigan with his niece Frida
at a Witness Against Torture event in 2008
Photo byThomas Good
from Wikimedia Commons