Crank (Crank 1)

was really quite handsome.

Unwrapping

the blanket to count fingers,

eyes, ears, and toes,

Finding

all twenty-four, precisely

where they ought to be.

Crying

because suddenly,

for the first time

in a very long time,

everything felt right.

Lows

10) Morning sickness. Puking

my guts out as soon

as I lifted my head

from the pillow, each

and every day

for weeks and weeks.

9) Listening to Mom and Scott

argue. About me.

About the baby.

About the odds

of it being some

sort of freak.

8) Trying to quit tobacco

after learning how

every puff made

my baby’s heart

stop beating. How