The shrimp

A recollection of my first days... Starting from birth ;)

 

 

The shrimp

 

Three human pounds

Urging to leave the tired womb

 

Managing just fine

Shouldn't be viable though

Nor living in 1964

 

Apgar* more than fine

Perfect

Like a science fiction artefact

 

An miniature little lady

Perfect

Why she lives is a little shady

 

Oh, she cries

Could she be hungry?

 

How to feed?

The shrimp is in need

For a feed

 

Mum can't provide

Without milk

She will subside

 

At last, she eats

Yet she cries

For feeds

She doesn't like

 

Yet she wants to survive

She's very much alive

 

Yet small, let's try the incubator

She can share with the other

Odd one out

 

She's a fighter

She kicks him out...

 

She's the survivor

No visitors allowed

 

Even a motherly cuddle

Is forbidden

 

Yet the shrimp

Is the survivor!

 

Author's Note

*Virginia Apgar was the pediatrist who designed the Apgar score which enables us to find out whether a newborn baby is healthy or not.
My birthweight was 1kilo and 450 grams. This is about 3 pounds.
I was born in 1964 and my first paid job was ... pediatric nurse in a consultation for babies. Being trained as a social worker, I had to take courses, do loads of reading and on the job training which lead to me finding out that, statistically speaking, babies with my birthweight weren't considered viable in ... 1964.

Reviews

[Nephil]

Interesting and well written. It's fun to ponder the metaphors and find at the end how they all make since. Good write.

[poddar kushal]

it is just wonderful. i appreciate the way you think in your own way

[April Child]

Thanks for the explanation, I didnt see it til after I read the poem and I was wondering what Apgar was. Now its all clear! Good poem, love the shrimp metaphor.

[Jane Doe]

Oh, I really like this piece. The rhyme and rythm was great.