My Baby Mine
by Darby Briar
My baby mine,
the baby that never was,
cradled in arms forever empty,
bereaved of your love.
How you might have grown,
laughed,
smiled for me—
a vision that even now
drifts out to sea.
The suffering is instant;
no need to await tears.
I trust it will fill my days
for undying years.
This kind of anguish,
not so far from complete,
is stark, all-encompassing,
and full of defeat.
How my life rearranged itself
to fit your tiny embrace,
thieving dreams, now carved out,
an abyss in their place.
I see no end to this grief,
nor any slight measure of hope or relief.
How can there be,
with vacant breaths,
silent sighs,
and beats that beat no more?
As if this misery carries daydreams
of your future out to shore.
With an agonizing rip,
my heart floats away,
even though I know
this was never your place to stay.
It’ll hurt like hell,
but I’ll survive this raging heartless tide,
and look forward to a time
I’ll travel this new journey by your side.
When I do,
one day venture beyond this space,
I hope the first thing I see
is your face.
My baby mine,
how I love you.
My baby.
the baby that never was,
cradled in arms forever empty,
bereaved of your love.
How you might have grown,
laughed,
smiled for me—
a vision that even now
drifts out to sea.
The suffering is instant;
no need to await tears.
I trust it will fill my days
for undying years.
This kind of anguish,
not so far from complete,
is stark, all-encompassing,
and full of defeat.
How my life rearranged itself
to fit your tiny embrace,
thieving dreams, now carved out,
an abyss in their place.
I see no end to this grief,
nor any slight measure of hope or relief.
How can there be,
with vacant breaths,
silent sighs,
and beats that beat no more?
As if this misery carries daydreams
of your future out to shore.
With an agonizing rip,
my heart floats away,
even though I know
this was never your place to stay.
It’ll hurt like hell,
but I’ll survive this raging heartless tide,
and look forward to a time
I’ll travel this new journey by your side.
When I do,
one day venture beyond this space,
I hope the first thing I see
is your face.
My baby mine,
how I love you.
My baby.
Darby Briar is an American author currently working to finish her degree in creative writing. With years of experience in crafting fiction, Darby’s work delves into themes of grief, resilience, and transformation, drawing readers into vivid, immersive worlds. Her debut novel, Burning Ember, marked the beginning of a versatile writing career, and she continues to work on various projects. Darby is dedicated to honing her craft through ongoing education and involvement with national writing communities.