“Hope Cradled” by A.J. Ugliano

A blue carpet with spots and swirls,
children laughing, playing, jumping, dancing,
through the window and beyond the palms, a couple, putting.

He sizes up, strokes the ball, and misses and looking up at her he smiles;
her hands on her stomach, large, with their hope cradled, a future, a difference, a legacy.

Their blood mixed into one, growing larger, she rubs it gently
and smiles back and shakes her head and laughs.