Endless Waiting

The closet is ready For girls or for boys. The basement is bursting With bright, playful toys. The bottles are clean, With tops screwed on tight. The car seat is fastened, In back, on the right. The room is here waiting, The paint is still wet, But the monitor's quiet. There's no baby yet. The hallways are soundless And the bedroom echoes. The cradle is empty As it rocks to and fro. Soft lullabies play To the empty air. But no one sits And rocks in the chair. I fight the dust As it gathers and rests On curtains, and shelves, And deep in my chest. We've hoped, wished, and dreamed, Waited for years But still all we have Are these heavy tears The news is not told. There's nothing to tell. Nothing to do, And waiting is he--.