the deepening ground

Modern miracles exist; we’ve just become too numb to recognize them. Whether or not you profess faith, the miracle of conception remains a scientific fact. To read about all the conditions necessary for conception to take place successfully and then all the steps in the process leading up to birth astounds me. As so many sources note, what we often take for granted is actually quite complicated. In fact, the most amazing thing I read recently related to the “zinc spark” that occurs at the moment of conception.

One source I found online noted, “According to scientists, ‘the spark occurs when the sperm enters the egg, releasing billions of zinc atoms.’ Researchers have found that the zinc spark is very important for fertilization. When the egg releases zinc, it helps to prevent other sperm from entering the egg. This is crucial because only one sperm should fertilize the egg to ensure proper development. As the National Institutes of Health (NIH) explains, ‘zinc sparks fly from the egg within minutes of fertilization’” (“The Miracle of Life: A Flash of Light at Conception”). There’s even video of this miraculous flash of light all over YouTube such as here: Moment of Conception.

So what better way to celebrate my two grandchildren-on-the-way than a nonet on pregnancy? No, a nonet is nowhere near as complicated as the miracle of new life, but as the form demands nine lines, starting with a line of nine-syllables and working down to a single syllable line, it’s the perfect form to celebrate my grandchildren and my daughters-in-law.

Pregnancy: A Nonet

By Vincent H. Anastasi 2024

unseen poem now becoming flesh
true miracle of two made one
living hope and practiced faith
expected dawn finespun
antidote to fears
joy despite strife
laughter’s tears
sacred
life