The Broken Beat
by Krista McInerney

My heart used to beat, many beats in perfect time.
It pumped life through me, unconsciously fine.
A rhythm so expected, never missing a beat.
My heart was a good heart. Reliable. Unique.

One day my heart fell. My child died in my arms.
But my mind told my heart, "You must still carry on".
My heart preserves life, though my soul is incomplete.
It somehow continues ticking, even with this broken beat.

The old heart that used to beat is so very far behind me.
This new heart, it’s broken beat, left here to remind me
Her heart was near. It used to beat so closely next to mine.
That’s when my heart last felt the joy of keeping perfect time.

 

 

Editor's Note:
This poem is dedicated to Krista's daughter Madison. Madison was born on her due date, March 13, 2002, and died 2 days later after complications during labor caused by blood clots in the placenta. Krista and her husband Brian in the Seattle area.

   
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