Sophie Syncope
suffocated
her sixth child,
placed the pink pillow
over the small head,
held it there, against
the struggling for breath,
until still, until dead.
Sophie waited, listened,
held her breath,
watched for movement.
None came; she removed
the pillow, stood holding
it by her side. The sixth
child lay closed eyed,
opened mouthed, small
hands in tight fists.
Sophie dropped pillow,
put child’s hands crossed
one over the other. Dead child,
crucified mother. Pushed
mouth closed, moved head
upright, steadied. She placed
her palms on the child’s cheeks,
felt smooth skin, knew
the stilled cancer within.
Cut short
the suffering,
snuffed out
the cancer’s route,
released her child’s spirit
to boot.
Mar 26, 2013
Mar 26, 2013 at 8:12 AM UTC
Sophie Syncope
suffocated
her sixth child,
placed the pink pillow
over the small head,
held it there, against
the struggling for breath,
until still, until dead.
Sophie waited, listened,
held her breath,
watched for movement.
None came; she removed
the pillow, stood holding
it by her side. The sixth
child lay closed eyed,
opened mouthed, small
hands in tight fists.
Sophie dropped pillow,
put child’s hands crossed
one over the other. Dead child,
crucified mother. Pushed
mouth closed, moved head
upright, steadied. She placed
her palms on the child’s cheeks,
felt smooth skin, knew
the stilled cancer within.
Cut short
the suffering,
snuffed out
the cancer’s route,
released her child’s spirit
to boot.
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