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Welcome… I’m New Here! My First Post

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DanRiversBooks

Colony Member
Joined
May 30, 2025
Location
Newcastle
LitBits
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Hi everyone,

This is my first proper post on here, and I'm not afraid to say how far out of my comfort zone this is. I am not one for sharing much in person, let alone online. Last week, I became a father, and while sitting by my sleeping wife and child, I wrote a poem about the experience. That seems a fitting first post as it is the beginning of a new chapter (book pun intended) in my life.

I don't expect any replies or anything, just trying to overcome this initial barrier.

Labor-ious Bystander​

The evening bled slowly into night,
The night bled into morning, the day and evening and soon it was night again.
This was never the plan.
The plan has gone long ago.
Now, theatre light bore down on us,
Stealing away the peace of darkness.
Everything has been explained,
Papers had been signed,
But, still, we felt lost.

Air, thick and humid, clung to tired, worried bodies,
Holding hands in the confusion,
Armies of people in different colours moved around the room in chattered synchronicity.
They all had a part to play.
Everyone knew what to do,
Except us.

Numb.
Everything was numb.
I, the sympathetic bystander, felt helpless in the chaos.
There was nothing we could do now.
We must listen with tired ears and comply.
They knew what to do so we did not have to.
Yet, still, we were worried.
No longer in control.

Then, you arrived.
Skin pale and pink,
Smudged with blood and white stuff.
That was the first I saw of you,
As you were presented over the cloth wall.
The welcome sound of screams rang out,
Washing the worry away.
Thick, brown hair covered your head,
Deformed by remnants of suction cups,
Quickly hidden by a yellow knitted hat.

You were smaller than I had imagined.
Yet, so much bigger.
So fragile and light in my hand.
Will you break if I hold you too tight?
You will certainly cry.
It's uncanny how much noise can come from something so small.

That first time I held you in my arms,
A strong feeling filled me.
But unlike the stories I have been told,
It was not love that consumed me.
A lack of sleep had inhibited me from that.
It was more than that.
It was sudden and quick.
An overwhelming sense of responsibility flooded through my veins.
You were ours.
You were mine.
I will be there for you.
I will care for you.
I will protect you.
Forever and always.
You were worth the wait.
 
Welcome to Litopia, Dan. Great poem, "helpless in the chaos", I remember that feeling vividly! Congratulations on your new arrival :)
 
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Dan,

You entered the site like your new little one. Angst and awe ridden. I am new too, in this space. Not new to motherhood. But I chose to skip the push it out of my own body part. Nonetheless, there is a visceral body response to these tiny beings that is indeed awesome. My body still lurches if my daughter is in pain. She is 21. A parental symbiosis that never seems to go away. Revel.

I recommend listening to Kate Bush, Women's Work a few times, to sage the not nice parts that come along with seeing the labor and to honor the creation.

I hope to see more writing soon.

Deborah
 
Welcome Dan. What a beautiful poem. Your kid will love reading that one day.

And good for you for posting. You will find many friendly faces here in the colony. You can almost say that we are the comfort zone.
 
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