Birth Poem by Paige Nielsen

grey skies on an October morning
rain raising chills in the autumn air
a shrouded, ill-spoken fog rolls in
and in a hospital,
a child is born
so anticipated-can't wait, can't wait
already so loved
but what has become of her?
not whole not healthy not complete
an infinitely small mutation
equals a gaping hole on baby's face
who could love a child so hideous?
oh, they tried-one failed
the other, still trying
but it's futile-
more than flesh is riddled with scars
her heart like the rain
on a cold, cold morn