Beautiful Tiny Baby
written by: Miriam Hurdle
@mhurdle112
Seven months of being pregnant,
driving from California to Oregon
for a Christmas family gathering.
“Take breaks more often,” Doctor said.
Still, it was 1,000 miles in distance.
When we arrived, I started the contractions,
went to the hospital in Salem.
“We have no equipment to care for
premature babies.” Doctor said.
An ambulance took me,
traveled one hour to Portland.
I was holding my baby tight,
praying, telling her, “I love you,”
all the way.
We arrived at the hospital safe and sound,
the contractions seemed to quiet down.
I had a belt on my belly strapped around
to monitor the frequency of contraction.
Not long after I had dinner,
the monitor beeped a warning sound.
Yes, my daughter wanted to come around.
A cesarean section was in order.
“An experimental drug could be
injected into your spinal cord
to mature the baby’s lungs, so
she could breathe on her own;
the effect on you is unknown.” Doctor said.
Without hesitation, I wanted the injection.
It turned out to be a sound decision.
Baby Mercy only needed twelve hours of
respiratory help.
She was tiny and beautiful.
I had her in my arms.
Her eyes followed mine.
My baby had the angel’s guide.
Her birth was years ago,
the vivid memory never gets old.
She started with her tiny feet,
her steps have been directed by
the heavenly Father’s lead.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
This poem is about the unexpected birth of my seven-month premature baby Mercy who was born safe and sound on the day after Christmas and my joy and gratefulness for the beautiful baby.
Note: Mercy is married with a beautiful family.
Miriam Hurdle is a multi-genre writer. She writes poetry, flash fiction, and short stories.
Music has rooted in her life. Being a soloist as a teenager led her to taking voice lessons and to have ongoing singing engagements. She continues to sing soprano in choral groups. Lyrics have a major influence in the natural flow of her melodic writing. She writes memoir in the form of poetry.
Along with her brother, she took photos when the films were black and white. Photography is still her enjoyable hobby. Drawing and painting were also fun activities as a child. Her favorite was to draw a Japanese girl with big eyes, long hair, small lips and chin. She resumed drawing and watercolor painting several years ago. In her poetry collection, Songs of Heartstrings, photos and paintings are included to illustrate the poems.
She earned a Doctorate of Education from the University of La Verne in California. After two years of rehabilitation counseling, fifteen years of public school teaching and ten years in school district administration, she retired and enjoys life with her husband in southern California.
