Doctored Illusion

A pantoum for the Slam, about being scarred by my caesarean section after a 3-day labor.

Where once you cut a slice across my core
Magician-like, to wow the waiting crowd
This scar betrays my motherhood, and more:
My three-day show of labor, long and loud.

Magician-like, to wow the waiting crowd
You pull an infant rabbit from my hat
My three-day show of labor, long and loud
You wave a wand, it’s over - just like that.

You pull an infant rabbit from my hat
With masked and muffled motions, sleights of hand;
You wave a wand, it’s over - just like that.
I comprehend but do not understand.

With masked and muffled motions, sleights of hand;
The scar betrays my motherhood, and more:
I comprehend but do not understand
Where once you cut a slice across my core.