Birthday Poem

Magnolia's Birthday Poem - written the morning of her First Birthday.

Sea of balloons on a new year’s dance floor -

you were born to laugh at the lock on the door,



you were born of coyote, of turtle and moon,

caught by the butterfly in your own room.



You are wise in giggles, you are calm in your search

for sparkles and crinkles, and sounds. From your perch



on the edge of lifetime, so many stories to tell,

a flower in rainstorms, bloom in heaven or hell,



since the beginning of time, from beetle to bud

on a branch that would reach into time, oh my love.



What will you say when you look at this rhyme?

It makes no sense, it has no time

but rhythm is yours, not your father’s or mine.



You will laugh at our whimsy so sloppy and trite

but we were together on a magical night



when you came into the world so perfect and pink,

Your footprints were pressed in soft black ink



on a card that proclaimed you born of this world:

Magnolia Helena, miraculous girl



named for flowers and fam’ly, delivered by friends

you are our magic

and our love has no end