Sonograms.

Mom was proud of what the pictures showed
The head, the body, the ears, the nose
And then she received some more good news
It was not one, but actually two!

Day by day, she’d observe them with bliss
Looking forward to giving each one a kiss
I wanted two more boys in the world
But Father was hoping for beautiful girls.

I told everyone about being a brother
Who’d step in during their fights with each other
I admit that it was early to have these thoughts
Only two weeks in, but it wasn’t my fault

Before we knew it, the month was passing
And everyone curious couldn’t stop asking
“How’s the baby?” and other things similar
I smiled every time people used the singular.

The day it all changed I’ll never forget
Mom just finished having the babies checked
Dad and I ordered the food and waited
When she came in, her good mood had faded.

“I have some news” she said at the table,
While the waiter poured our soup with a ladle
 “One of the twins didn’t get his nourishment”
As she wept we whispered words of encouragement.

It’s a short life, I hope this twin appreciates it
Knowing that his other half had never made it
Every second counts, I’m not being satirical
Because the process of life is its own miracle.