Gestation

I reach in panic for my heart:
Yes, still there, and kicking, grown
too big to keep a secret.
Soon, the door of my rib-cage will
spring open and
the labor of letting go begins.
I almost hope it is stillborn, so that
I am the only one to ever carry it.

-- Copyright 2007 Maddie Ruud

"Action 1" is a project, born Jan 31, 2007, involving the free distribution of original poetry. I give permission to forward this message as a whole, unaltered, via email, but reserve the rights of publication, web and print.