Leah in Love

Leah's womb swelled and pushed
seven times
seven children before she knew beyond
her head-- the pale infant
sucking at her breast had nothing
to give. She lost
another porcelain tooth and Jacob's
back was hard, cold as
the gray stone graves of fathers.

Wrinkled newborn babies did not cry his name,
only Leah.
They brought breath and
warm flesh to every unfulfilled
desire beating in her chest.
Larger and longer they came
seven times--
the space between husband and wife--
till they reached the length of
a self

where a woman could lie
perfectly along them, know
beyond her own head
who she really is.

Photo above found at:
http://sanddra.deviantart.com/art/pregnant-51296512