Carbondale, Illinois, May 1992

sound of shattered glass
whiplashed mother
in her long dress
muscles     tightened
one summer night

five college girls
in a Mustang
crashed       into her
Dodge Caravan
t-boned her       driver’s side
metal                   barrelling
into       belly
seatbelt               low
pedal                   anchored      to floor
she was alone       she held me

in her womb          I didn’t move

                        ***

Kept inside         the wreckage
until Paramedics            cut her out

she stood in the hospital room
pieces of glass         held by her belly

fell to the floor         when she saw my father
              standing in the door

Everything’s okay.      She’s okay.

I still hear the shape         of her voice         in me.