Should Have Been

“The baby turned, my mind learned not to care”
what they all had to say. It still could be,
this should-have-been I tucked for keeps
in my spare room, a bony cradle, feet
unfurled and snugged up under my left ribs.
I can feel it, I say. And they say, Shush,
honey, you ain’t helping nobody going on
that way. My mind turns from my too loose belly,
these people who insist I get up to pee.
This tug inside me must be my baby.