what I wish I could heal as your nurse

Would you give me permission to tell you

without overstepping my bounds, personal, professional

that this is not your fault.

You were only trying to take good care of your baby;

you didn’t know,

you didn’t know.

 

I see the protest in your eyes,

Someone has to be to blame, and that someone is me.

If I had known, if I hadn’t done this, if we hadn’t done that

our baby would still be alive.

 

How can I help loosen the grip that this mistake

threatens to hold over your life?

Would you give me permission to tell you

Can I tell you, you are still a good mama

Can I tell you, you are still a good papa

 

Can I tell you, your baby would forgive you too if he had the words;

of this I am sure.

 

Can I tell you, he knew you loved him to the very end.

Your tears baptize him

and your blessings flow

 

and flow

 

and flow.