No Turning Back by Denise Beddows

Body battered, bruised and bloated
Hormonal tsunami surging
Irrational fears and nightmares
Post-partum premonitions
Yet my innocent babe lies sleeping

Demons await outside the door
Disease, debt, disappointment
A thousand hurts and stings
How shall I keep them at bay?
Yet my unworldly babe lies sleeping

Awesomeness of responsibility
Dawns in fogged maternal mind
And what of her mental agility?
How to tell if all is well?
Yet my contented babe lies sleeping

Pangs of self-doubt grip my soul
A lifelong duty of protection
Monitoring every inaudible breath
Each tiny stir and gentle murmur
Yet my perfect babe lies sleeping

Ill-prepared, inadequate, I,
My daughter’s tearful keeper-mentor
The path of my life irrevocably set ...
Then, love-rush overwhelms all trepidation
Hush, my beautiful babe is waking