i hold a photograph of my mother 3 months pregnant, 1970 – Renée M. Sgroi

hold my self
a little			,

human chorionic gonadotropin
hidden in the bump

of her blue shift dress
a little

heat 
in the Kodachrome 

	        (o)
of nutrients sewed	
at an angle

of portable backlight and
attachable flash

Renée M. Sgroi is the author of life print, in points (erbacce-press, 2020), and editor of Written Tenfold (Poetry Friendly Press, 2018). Her work is published in Pinhole Poetry, The Windsor Review, The /tƐmz/ Review, Poetry Pause and numerous anthologies. Her second poetry collection is due out in 2024. https://reneemsgroi.com