Now That I Am Forever With Child

Now That I am Forever With Child

- Audre Lorde

How the days went

while you were blooming within me

I remember each upon each--

the swelling changed planes of my body

and how you first fluttered, then jumped

and I thought it was my heart.

How the days wound down

and the turning of winter

I recall, with you growing heavy

against the wind. I thought

now her hands

are formed, and her hair

has started to curl

now her teeth are done

now she sneezes.

Then the seed opened

I bore you one morning just before spring

My head rang like a fiery piston

my legs were towers between which

A new world was passing

Since then

I can only distinguish

one thread within running hours

You, flowing through selves

toward You.

--

Happy fourth birthday, our precious Julian. The world will never be the same.