The sun arises in maternal eyes,
bathes with vibrant gold this child's emergent brow,
anoints with halo of moonlit star-crossed skies,
kisses with the love of life that starts from now.
At the first ragged cry lactosis stirs the swollen breast,
the milk of human kindness softly seeps;
heartbeat slowing in a birdcage chest;
forever in her soul this moment keeps.
The pain of tissue rent is dying out,
the sweat of labour on her flesh has dried,
the hurt in primal scream, in fevered shout
fades to a state of grace with tears cried.
Held at the break of dawn on birthing day,
on bed sheets where the blood of life has run;
though cords are cut and calmly thrown away
the mother and the child remain as one.