This is the first version of a poem originally commissioned for an online education platform and, as such, is aligned to a number of grade 6 ELA and lexile standards. This piece contains emotional themes that may be stressful for students and families. Teachers are free to reproduce, edit, or use this work freely in their lessons as they see fit.
My mama’s belly grew
five sizes the summer before my
first day of middle school
I pressed my ear to it heard
sloshing ocean waves asked her
What’s in there?
remember the glow in her eyes as
she replied, you’re getting a little sister
She explained that
in the old days, they used
large bells cast in iron to explore the sea
pushed them straight down into ocean blue
one could sit inside the bell
a little pocket of air to keep them safe
while they searched the inky depths
It’s like that, she said
I laid against my mother’s diving bell
every night listened to
tiny thumping heart a
signal back to shore
Then one day it happened
mama came home pale-faced
red-eyed my father sat next to her
held her in his arms as she sobbed softly
That night the bell was silent I
listened and listened until mama
heaved and heaved rubbed my
hair over and over
told me the baby had slipped out
from under the bell to
go exploring and
had not come home
Mama told me she’s still out there swimming
let me listen at her ocean waves
searching for the thrumming signal
until I fell asleep
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