Mariah sits alone in the rain
she says it soothes her pain
it disguises her tears
shields her from the village stares
holds back another reason for them to snare
but from where I stand, it seems that
the rain uncovers Mariah’s despairs
she is trying to be strong
but every drop from the dark clouds
stabs her soul like thorns

Her cries are getting louder
but she can’t afford to be heard
so she synchronizes her wails with the blasting of thunder
lightning strikes at a distance
where her eyes wander
as her mind painfully ponders
the events of that fateful day

Her lips only let out wails
but the gushing winds want to hear words,
They ask, “What happened that day, Mama”,
“I am not a mom”, Mariah hurriedly responds
as she finally finds words to defend her pain
“Much as I carried them in my womb
that day was supposed to be filled with joy
I was going to finally hold my girl and boy
but little did I know that fate had been deployed
Waiting for the hour to strike and destroy”
“It will be a smooth birth”, the village midwife said
while she buttoned her worn-out medical scrub
But she did not add that she had no drugs
No transfusion blood, no doctor on call

She kept screaming “Push”, and I did with my all
and as sure as the nightfall, did darkness creep in
“Something is not right”, the village midwife finally said
“It’s late in the night
but you will not have breath by daylight”.

She gathered the village men to carry me to the town
They paced their steps with their muscles flexed
All I remember is that we reached the town medical center.
The early roster had just made its first crow
when the doctor said it was too late after all
“The twins have no heartbeat, and you, Mariah,
will be next to take the fall”.
To save my life, the doctor had to remove that which gave life
I now live without a womb
and memories of my lifeless twins in a tomb

Mariah’s words left the gushing winds chilled
they quietened as though to give a moment of silence
The rain slowly ceased
but I could see Mariah’s grief only increased