There is bubbling inside me
rising panic
calm pushing down
rising fear
serenity pushing down
and I am reminded of the breaths I forgot to take
as I rode the waves of birth
pushing
holding
pressing
rolling
squeezing
ripping
no air
no space
no end
until there was a scream.
But the first time
there was no scream
and I saved my breath
for round two
and only let it go
when I heard the second cry
the third time around.
Colloquially Speaking 