From Water

Clumped among the frothing mounds,
flung onto shore, a tiny wholeness
in baby bib overalls, awaits the finding:
this is what you have for me.

Brush away the flies—shoo now, gull!
unweave fingers of
emerald, garnet, opal seaweed,
and midwife a new sort of glean
from out the lashing waters
onto my-side, land-side, sand-wide world.

Make his cradle in the turn of my hand
and lift him to where my neck
is a cleft to share dry skin and warm,
encircled by wind moans in lullaby.
We both are foundlings found in the finding.

All that the tides have snatched from us
is now repaid in this, a crowning catch--
perfect transfer of seed to the barren,
speech to the silent, orphan to his rest.

--
Michelle Shelfer and her husband, Jerry, operate a non-profit called Prepare a Room Ministries, which seeks to help those hurt by abortion and disciple the next generation to embrace life and the Giver of life. Her poetry has been published in Ekstasis, Penwood Review and Solid Food Press. Her poetic themes often centre around motherhood. She can be found at michelleshelfer.substack.com/ and on social media at @preparearoom.