The body is pregnant with limbs
and dismemberment—they tremble
and clutch. Their mouths are open
and closed again, the green bodies like ghosts
turning over, a foot thrusting outward,
another hand reaching gripping
emptiness. It reaches for you and gathers
nothing, is not angry—tries again.
This is how you know these are the earliest signs
of motherhood—all that came before (windy breeze)
was the carrying.