In Earth Life

When I heard my Mother say.
" the lettuce has broken
the black rich spring of earth"
I decided to look out
and see-

My Papa clenched with wet sweat-reaking hands
my mama's arm
and his half-closed grey blue eyes,
looking into hers
saw the joy
saw, with her third great push,
the reflection of my wet black head
perfect
and inhaling air
pushing the very breath of herself
into my lungs
a groan
almost a laugh
a tear
at my arms and legs waving in the air
covered with the scent of my Mama
touching the earth air
pressed next to that belly
connected with cord
yelling at the air
grasping a nipple
sucking for milk
mother-food.

My Papa's lips
touching Mama's
dried and cracked
joined
in earth life.