nine

Even the crunchiest
breast-feeding, baby-wearing
attachment-parenting books
didn't prepare me for this:

As my body opened,
forcing your first breath,
you climbed in,
taking residence in my heart;

In that moment began
my real living
as I observe my heart
walking around outside my body;

And now I am actually praying
that your ever-widening circle
will always require me
at its center, like your pulse.