Birthday

She remembers that morning clearly,

the morning she pushed her first born

out into the air - pure urge, exhilaration,

amazement, awe, ravenous appetite.

Nurse laughed when she ate two trays,

rushed to kitchen for extra cherry pie,

described her daughte'rs suckling lips

as a tiny rosebud, opening. She couldn't

remember how to dial the telephone

but knew exactly how to delight

in warm curls between her breasts,

heavy head trusting her strong hands,

tiny fingers gripping her thumb for dear life.

She will remember that morning forever.