as you held the tiny promise
in your womb cells broke 
loose, overpowered the barriers of 
your body, swam through 
rivers of your blood 
to bury themselves
in liver, heart and brain 
where they’ll remain - perhaps 
forever, tucked away
little 
artifacts 
of love.

and as you stand here
do you know that you are you
but you are not the same
forever marked
by the ones you carry?

and as they left and so began
the slow goodbye - always leaving
does it help to know 
 a piece of them chose to stay?
announced you holy place
cathedral of waiting
anointed your body
 a shrine of love?

2. From the Greek word
chimera;  
a fire breathing mythical creature
made of 
many animals.