Linda Barrett- A Poem

Linda Barrett is a prolific poet with her work seen in her church's newsletter called the St. John's Anglican Evangelist. She earned awards for her work in the Montgomery County Community College Writer's contest three years running. Ms. Barrett lives in Abington, a suburb of Philadelphia, Pa. for over 50 years.

               

Knitted within my Mother’s womb

                         

One cell

Expands within 

My mother’s womb

Father’s sperm inserts

Into her ova, ignites

His DNA into hers then

They blend and the cell

Separates into two within one

Multiplies from two to three

Four to five then sixes and sevens

At the first month,

The baby’s own separate genetic structure

Builds from within its own helix 

 Curled up inside the placenta

Umbilical cord earning nourishment

Attached to my mother’s uterus’ wall

Two months later,

My eyes are two small dots

I resemble a tadpole

Fingers and toes form

My nose breathes amniotic fluid 

Three months:

Brain and spinal column work

Thoughts float around in them

As does my growing infant body.

My small heart pounds 

within my translucent form

swimming in the womb.

Six months later:

Fingerprints form on my hands

Swirling hair crowns my skull

Skin covers the body

Nine months later:

the time comes when

contractions push me out

into the world

a being

fearfully and wonderfully made

by God.