“Happy Birthday, Mother”
Happy Birthday, Mother,
My one-time universe!
There was a galaxy in your womb, once
—Did you know that?—
Where I was a star:
Falling, bawling, crawling,
Crawling to where you are.
How you must have held that belly-ful world
And marveled that
Though you cannot see me, you know
That I am there.
Just as I, beholding heaven, marvel
That though I cannot see you, I know
You are there,
Holding me like a womb
Where I am a star,
Still falling, bawling, crawling,
Crawling to where you are.
Happy Birthday, Mother!