it was all about numbers that day,
two hours since we fell asleep,
wait one hour, said the doctor,
57 minutes before waking charles, counting
10-9-8, stretch, 10-9-8, breathe,
how many steps to the corner?
one cab shining through the storm,
and the snow fell,
and the snow fell, 9 stories up
and the snow fell, count nurses, count doctors,
count hours
and the snow fell.

six weeks ago, today,
it was all about the numbers
two large husband-hands on my shoulders,
one IV, two more doctors, 127 breaths
before i heard the first crying,
before dad cried, and mom cried
and milo coo'd
and the snow fell.