The Miscarriage

There has been a death in the family,
No eulogy, no coffin,
No funeral, no black.
And yet, there has been a death
in the family.
No undertaker, no hearse,
No cemetery, no grave.
And yet, there has most assuredly
been a death in the family.
No belly, no fullness,
No lifeline, no baby.
There has been a death in the family.


by Linda Wasmer Smith
Portland, OR

I found this poignant, sorrowful poem
during my first month on the internet
in 1998. If I only knew where to
find her, I would tell her how
much we all care.