Two of three children are still

wide awake,

a fourth making rounds inside

the roundness of my belly.

Tonight, a woman I do not know

remarked, “Your baby is going to be

huge.”

“This is my fourth. They’ve all been big,” I smiled.

As if my saying so would ease

her tension, not mine.

I did not go on to mention

the other three–

How, big or small, this baby

growing is a dream. How many

days and nights I’ve prayed,

“God, protect this life

you’re creating.” How, miracle of miracles,

the fullness of this belly

is hope in something

much bigger than my frame could contain.

MM