The mother brings the baby’s tiny dress
to the mortician, walking and breathing in shock,
and agony, as the child’s heart was broken,
and unfixable, so is hers.

The father hides the baby’s tiny shoes,
and stays at home, unable to handle the death,
and agony, as the child’s heart stopped,
and never restarted, so did his.

She views the album of caskets,
shakily turning the pages,
unbelieving.

He views the video of his daughter,
smiling as he’s crying,
unbelieving.

They bury their infant, together,
and are dying…
from broken hearts.

Erin Moen
5/5/03
Copyright 2003 ©

This is not personal, it's from a TV program, but the pain was so palpable as I watched and I wanted to capture the essence of the feel of losing a child.