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Iowa Writes JEFF ROBERTS As I parted the curtain and stepped toward the bed, I heard a whimper, then a groan. I inhaled deeply the smells that saturated the air, it was sharp, stark; the smell of primitive life, brine and flora all mixed with the sweet medicinal smell of a hospital. I took Sarah's hand, drew it to my lips, and kissed it lightly. She pulled her hand away, clutched her face with both hands, squinted her eyes, and turned toward me, moaning, "God, it hurts so much, Jeff." Sarah was sprawled across the hospital bed, her body coated in sweat, her blond hair matted. Two nurses and the doctor stood at the foot of the bed, commenting nonchalantly about how well this delivery was going, that she was fully dilated, and the baby was crowning. Sarah cried out and then exhaled heavily; her body not her own as she breathed in…out…in…out, as she twisted from the contractions. She arched her back as she pushed downward with all her might, her eyes closing into two small slits. All these sounds, motions, and smells were swirling around us in the miracle of birth. Sarah grabbed my arm again, clinched her teeth, dug her nails into my arm, and let out a low moan, "Oh…Jeff….Oh, God, Jeff." Hunching forward, Sarah breathed harder, deeper, and pushed from her very soul as the head slowly emerged and a baby's cry rang out in the delivery room. After he clipped the umbilical cord, the doctor placed this bundle of wet hair and soft folds of flesh into Sarah's waiting arms. As she pulled the naked little infant to her chest, Sarah turned to me with tears streaming down her face and sobbed, "We got our baby girl." |
About Iowa Writes Since 2006, Iowa Writes has featured the work of Iowa-identified writers (whether they have Iowa roots or live here now) and work published by Iowa journals and publishers on The Daily Palette. Iowa Writes features poetry, fiction, or nonfiction twice a week on the Palette. In November of 2008, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Iowa City, Iowa, the world's third City of Literature, making the community part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Iowa City has joined Edinburgh, Scotland and Melbourne, Australia as UNESCO Cities of Literature. Find out more about submitting by contacting iowa-writes@uiowa.edu JEFF ROBERTS Jeff Roberts is a 45 year-old father to two, lover of one and is blessed with the friendship of many. He's finishing the last 3 hours in the Bachelor of Liberal Studies Program at Iowa and will graduate next December. This piece is from his book, Little Stories, which is a collection of his undergraduate writing here at Iowa is now on sale at Praire Lights Books in Iowa City, Prospero's Book in Kansas City, and on-line. |
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