Our Stephanie

Expecting child, glowing, beaming,

again mother to be.

Cravings, cramps, morning vomit,

one month, two months,

nine months drag on, full term.

Family, friends, and dad, await,

excited anticipation,

for joyfull, sleepless nights.

Beautiful is Mom,

belly bulging, bearing child;

baby child, gift of God.

Brother asks, boy or girl,

wishing baby buddy.

Check-ups regular,

progress monitored,

all goes well so far.

Expected date, two days ahead.

Kicks and bumps within, far apart,

concern, examination one last time.

Mother still presuming best,

dad keeps thoughts inside.

Tests made, sonogram, photograph,

ultrasound, doctor’s solemn news,

expected joy, our baby, has died.

Mother shocked,

dad’s fears confirmed,

tears well up, throat constricts,

beginning morning loss.

Still yet the delivery;

labor, pain, anguished pain,

joy in pain now gone.

Push, push, push, but why,

life’s dusk before the dawn.

Head’s crown unveiled; push, push, push.

Beautiful, still, body exposed,

our little girl, our Stephanie.

We grieve for loss,

unrealized expectancy, nine months past.

She was not known;

unconditional we loved, though gone.

Sorrow our loss, we bear;

in grief we joy for baby’s gain.

She’ll not know life as you or I,

but heaven’s life with God.

Roger W Hancock

written May, 22, 2002 ©www.FoolBay.com