Midlife Crises

She was already at the midpoint of her life

when she gave birth, 

though of course,

she didn’t know it then,

and was happy to light another roll up.

It was a difficult birth. 

Even though the baby was small

her insides were smaller

and the effort burst blood vessels in her legs

which would cause ulcers throughout the rest of her life,

but the healthy child growing up was her joy and consolation.

She had married late to a much older man,

a widower already past the midpoint of his life

and of course, he knew it even then,

but what could he do but light another roll up.

At his life’s midpoint his first child had died

so the healthy child brought him joy and consolation

and he cared for both while he could.

Her life went on,

only the first half done.

Both halves were hard

but she loved and was loved

in the best and worst of times.

In both halves of her life she was whole.

https://poetsonline.org/archive/arch_midpoint.html