Today

 On the eve of your birth
word of your coming and arrival
passed from animal to animal
    The reindeer told the Artic terns,
    who told the humpback whales
    who tell the Pacific salmon,
"their'e all around"
            who told the monarch butterflies,
            who told the green turtles,
            who talked the European eel,
            who told the busy garden warblers,
                        

                            and the marvelous news migrated worldwide.

While you waited in darkness,

tiny knees curled to chin,
the Earth and her creatures 
with the Sun and the Moon
all moved in their places,
each ready to greet you
the first moment
of the very first day you arrived.

On the day you were born
the round planet Earth

turned toward your morning sky,
and Good Morning Child, Get Out Of Bed.

Spinning the night into the light.

On the day you were born,
gravity's strong pull

held you to the earth , 

with a promise that was
flawless and would never float away.


... while deep in space
the burning Sun                        
sent up                                      
towering flames,
lighting your sky
from Dawn till Dusk on those late yawnnin Autumn days.

On the day you were born     
the quiet Moon glowed
and offered to bring 

a full bright face

each month after

to your windowsill.


.......While high above the North Pole 
Polaris, the Glittering, North Star,
 and examined all. is there any good left, any about there after all?,
We stand still tonight, shining silver light waiting to enter into your night sky.

On the say
you were born
the Moon pulled
on the ocean
below, and,
wave by wave,
a rising tide

washed the beaches clean for your footprints.

..while for
out at sea
clouds swelled
with water drops,
sailed to shore
on a wind, sad and twisted.
and it rained on the momkeys and the tigers were hungry "where the tuna now"
but yet a welcome across the Earths 
green lands.

On the day you were born
a forest of tall trees
collected the Suns lights
in their Leaves
where, in silent mystery.
they made oxygen
for you to breathe...

            ... While close to your skin
and a high as the sky,
air rushed in and blew about,
invisibly protecting you
and all living things on Earth.

On the day your were born
the Earth turned, the moon pulled,
the sun flared, and, then, with a push.
            You slipped out of the dark quiet
               where suddenly you could hear

            ..... a circle of people singing

with voices familiar and clear.

"Welcome to the spinning world," the people sang,
as they washed your new tiny hands.

"Welcome to the green Earth," the people sang, as they wrapped your wet , slipperey body.

And as they held you close
they whispered in your open, curving ear and heart.
"We Are So Glad You've Come To Me!"

VIA On The Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier