Carried, Julie Ann Cook (June 2026)

Carried
for my tiny sons whom Heaven holds

Hush, my heart, be still. Breathe
in peace. Hold. Release the days
from memory’s grasp and bury
the weight of hopeless prayers
 
in peace. Hold. Release the days,
every second, minute, hour with
the weight of hopeless prayers.
Haunting dreams carry my tiny ones
 
every second, minute, hour. With
each breath they never took,
haunting dreams carry my tiny ones
further from my empty womb.
 
Each breath they never took
catches in my keening-hoarse throat.
Further from my empty womb,
this burden of lost boys
 
catches in my keening. Hoarse throat
and memories gasp. And I bury
this burden of lost boys,
hush my heart. Still, I breathe.