In the early hours of evening, the pain grew becoming an entity in its own right. What was a mild moment of discomfort, became a maelstrom of pain, wave after wave pulling her into some place far from the reality of daily life. There seemed nothing except that centre of pain. Then, there was a moments calm and she returned for a moment to recognize her surroundings
He held her hand.
“Good, you’re doing good!” he assured her calmly. And she focused upon him, his calm, his words. Eyes meeting eyes. The pain returned.
“Look at me! Watch me and follow me!” he said and started to breath – in then out slow deliberate breaths and she copied him.
In her mind she drifted along with the music that played in the room and she breathed with him. The pain, though still central in her life now, was tolerable.
“Breath in breath out … now quickly!” and he began to pant and she panted too.
Pain, breath, a thought for the infinite that is life an ocean crashing and then … with a whoosh like a wave crashing one last time upon the rocks there came: peace and silence, except for her baby’s first cry.
breath
guiding energy
birth
© G.s.k. ‘15
Linked to Carpe Diem Haiku Kai – Pranayama
Bastet and Sekhmet's Library 