watch the rain fall

Pulling up the long gravel hill-road that is my midwife's driveway I was warmed by the wide expanse greeting me. No car at this time of night meant only one thing. The night was dark and inviting as I re-entered the intimate held-breath of birth. It sang me a welcoming lullaby of tires scraping around corners and the muted click of the door handle to the birthing room. It held my eyes calm and steady with the power of every good midwife gone before me as I took one crying mother's arm, whispered "be strong" and then released it back to hold her child; bringing forth her own child. The circled knot of women surrounding that circled knot of skin, bone, blood. The holding and releasing of awe rushing out and receeding with one beautiful round head. That moment when everything is still. and then there is a new daughter to whisper secrets to. and a new mother to whisper them. - then suddenly - tubes, suction, monitors, brain-scans, helicopters - and all around me, the scent of love, liquid dripping, and a gentle reminder - sometimes all you can do, is watch the rain fall.