twenty-three years later

i’m still excited

can still remember

her birth that Friday

afternoon

as if it were

yesterday

feeling her heart-beat

match mine as she curled

on my chest

her perfect face

her perfect body

her perfection

having arrived safely

love as anchor

and yesterday

as i prepared and awaited

her arrival

that same excitement

same anxiety

that there will be no

travel mishaps

then seeing her

the simple and sheer joy

of her arrival

wrapping her in my arms

holding her

this child woman

who is much more

than i could have imagined

so much more than…

the bond between mother

and daughter

the chord though cut

will never be broken

this infinitesimal thing

called love

known as family

a joyfilled connection