Bump Poem by Lonnie Hicks

First eye
in the full mirror
silhouetted

turning slowing
she lets
the view
of herself
breath in.

Then rotation
left
and right again;
skirt pushed against
her belly
no longer slight
but now a half-crescent
baby bump.

It breathed;
warm to the touch;
she wondering if he'd
noticed this view;

would he touch
her and it.

She rotated
in the mirror
again,

seeing there a slight defect
where her thigh shimmered
more that it should have.

What more in human view
more powerful than first
baby view,
first mound seen
or felt?

What emotions run
centering on
what if a baby comes?

What thoughts flee?

What assessments are made
at this juncture point?

To tell
a loved one,
a parent;
will it be fear,

alone thoughts
or joy
to anticipate?

No time assessed
more scrupulously
than than first time
viewing a baby bump.

No life more in the balance
here
mother and baby son
mirrored full length,
light beaming in
from outside sun.

No more private
and precious time
than that
contemplating
whether
or not
to tell.