7 WEEKS TO GO

This is What My Body Does

j.b. rowell

I explain that this happens
on and off
and by the time
I reach the hospital I will be half
way there.

"Do you want me to check
your cervix?"

I stop and think about his use
of the word "want"
then say no,
that will only make it worse.

"You don't want to have this baby
on the kitchen floor,"
he says laughing.

My kitchen floor is clean
and cold.
The hospital smells
clean but is not
and is colder.

I decide white linoleum
wouldn't be so bad.