After Naomi

It is a grave injustice, she said
That we don’t prepare women for motherhood
Injustice
In the age of George Floyd

And here I am
Wondering
If I’ll die
Pushing out life

Like his knee was pushing,
On his neck
His and hers
On the birthing table

“Mama” he cried
How could she have known
How this would feel
Praying for this child

I brought the quartz rock
Like you told me
Hoping it would bring her out sooner
Drank the tea

The leaves didn’t leave behind
Any prediction of his death
Predilection of her birth
Predication of my screams

Predator, like when he screamed
He was waiting for me
To take away the hurt
And bring him life

S. Simone Barenfeld is a writer and educator. They hold a B.A. in Journalism and English from Baruch College, CUNY, and an M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. They have been published in Sonder Midwest, The Jewish Advocate and Camera. They live in New York City.