Cesarean

a mother lies near

a little bit sick

a little bit dazed

she watches him

getting new breath

no cry

seeps around

the silicon mask

just the heave

of ribs so plastic

she might almost see

the little heart

cradled between two

wet straining lungs

numbers pulse red

hope stepping

to 89 then 90

numb in her fatigue

a warm pool of relief

she has no idea

of their import

this reversal

of amniotic immersion

a sort of undrowning

for her son

for us all