Wednesday 14 January 2015

Yet another day


Ann sighed so sadly
For she was pregnant again
This one was her fourth

Yet one child alive
The angels may have brought them
But they did not stay

Jim, Tom and her here
The others were in heaven
Not even a grave

She wanted a girl
But often wondered for why
When life was all grief

This time it might stay
For baby was due in May
That could be her name

But God would provide
And would take away as well
She smoothed her belly

Let me keep this one
She prayed, and a daughter too
Jim, stirred by her side

The cock crowed outside
Silently she left the bed
Yet another day


Infant mortality two hundred years ago meant that 25% or more babies died before they were one year old; many more in undeveloped countries. Birthdays were not at all important, just surviving was a gift.

Image found at www.all-art.org


14 comments:

  1. How things change. I like the way you write about this as part of life in those days. This is a very touching poem.

    ReplyDelete
  2. And likely mortality rates are still high in undeveloped countries. Imagine the heartbreak of so many losses. I especially resonate with wondering why she wants a girl child "when life is all grief".......You have hit the tone here to perfection, Robin.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You show the conflict between the life and reality,with life always penetrated through any obstacles....

    ReplyDelete
  4. How true and your poem so poignant...thank you for this perspective.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow, this story of birth is definitely a heart felt one. I never realized the struggle. I mean I knew that it was hard back then, but I never really knew. If this makes sense at all.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You'd think with survival so difficult that birthdays would be a bigger deal - like a milestone. But I've heard even now the aborigines of Australia don't bother with birthdays.

    ReplyDelete
  7. "Yet Another Day" we deal with life and death and washing the dishes. Your poem brilliantly portrays this in the despair and yearning of a mother pregnant again. I love that she might call her May--a hope, a promise, a change. Despite all, this woman still has hope.

    ReplyDelete
  8. A beautiful poem filled with hope despite negative circumstances.

    ReplyDelete
  9. so poignant. you've captured it well and the true sense of reality

    gracias

    ReplyDelete
  10. Shelo Asani Isha

    I can understand why orthodox Jewish males say this prayer every morning.
    Women do it very tough and I can understand why they would not to be one.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Such a melancholy poem, OE. The sadness for the loss of babies is behind her as she anticipates the new one to be born. Great picture with this. I'm starting a new link up of writing with a picture...See my post this Sunday.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a wonderfully tender but powerful piece..

    ReplyDelete
  13. A day in the life, what a topic for the poem. A well written look at the world before modern medicine.

    ReplyDelete
  14. A beautiful reminder of what women have endured. The mortality rate for women was high as well.

    ReplyDelete