for all I know, she is a woman.
her beauty might leave you speechless
she is special, not the only one of her species,
and yet, she is uniqueness.

the wind whistles through her hair,
as she walks in elegance,
but it’s nothing like arrogance.

she embodies love and protection,
her heart is strong and golden.
and she is a lover of perfection.

she still remembers
the chances she didn’t take.
the wounds, the heart aches
and the days without breaks.

she has fallen many times,
but sure knows how to arise.
her strength has never let her down
and she still carries her crown.

for all I know,
she is a queen without king.
she always knew how to fight
and how to spread out her wings.

she protects her infants
even from a distance.
her love is persistent,
she is brave and resistent.

for all I know,
her heart is in the right place,
it carries compassion and grace.
and she will always make sure,
that I am safe.

for all I know, she must be a mother.
and gracefully I smiled,
when I realised,
that I am her child.

- gio

In the labor of birth he taught her the secret of life: to ride the waves of fear and take the ebs, the crests, let go.  

She did not know the second wave of birth was yet to come.

High, strong shrills of joy echoed through the hospital, reminding the world that miracles abound.

Heart beat to heart beat they held each other bound for all time.

Both free to their singular bodies, after their nine months as one.

In the days after she reminisced about the first ultra sounds of watching his joyous twirling within. Bright with life and safe within her.

His pattern of life set to the sun quickly.  His cries of hunger were as predictable and steady as the stars crossing the 2am February skies.

All was calm in the darkness of winter. When the awe of birth settled purity shone bright, a swell arose.

The eb pulled on her.  She began to sink into darkness. Each pull telling her no measure of love could ever keep her son from hurt.

Her heart quickened, fracturing at the truth, collapsing releasing the lifetime of fear.

All she was wounded by bled into their joy.  All that she doubted since her birth crested and peaked over them. The great flood of her emotions loomed over as she held him.

She held her baby tight, heartbroken, she learned why mothers and children are smotherd and consumed in the waves of evil that await purity.

It spoke to her, she became darkness, questioning his agonies and hardships he would endure. Her spirit thin and weak, broke and all went dark.

In her last thoughts her mind looked for orientation.

She held him, looking at his light.  Bright and pure.  

"Stop shining they all see! Hide!" Her fears consumed her.

The second wave of birth, that crests in the weeks following broke. She gave up and knew she was gone.  Her own light torn into darkness.

Heart shattered, spirit broken she let go.

In her last gaze back at the world she saw his light, flickering joyous, bright and eternal.

It called to her, collected her and pulled her within his heart.

He took them through her darkness, his purity and joy, his light, holding each other as the world of darkness passed and the miracle of life eased into days and weeks and years.

Joyful boy bundled in blue,
Nine months and a day mommy carried you,
Nine months and a day when I was due,
Out you came with a purplish hue.

Your twin sister soon followed suit,
However, she came out, pink, plump, and cute.
Beautiful you were, a work of art,
You had my love right from the start.

Perfect little eyes, fingers, nose, and toes,
My heart full of both sadness and excitement,
Thought I might implode.

A few months before,
In two my heart tore,
When the doctor informed me,
A stillborn you'd be,
Your little heart didn't function at full capacity.

But even with your purple hue,
Here, with me just for a few,
Precious Earth angel, mine you were,
I'm sure the Lord God would concur.

Just for me, I felt you held out,
Your tiny little heart beat so rapidly,
The cry let out was quite lively ,
In mommy's arms right where you belonged,
For nine months and a day to hold you I had longed.

Momentarily, the nurses and doctors had fawned over you
Then quickly they whisked my love away to the NICU.
Bundle of blue, your outlook was bleak,
Surprised I was you even let out a squeak,
For you were so very tiny and weak.

So daddy and I packed you up and took you home,
To steal every moment of this precious time alone,
No breathing machines, painful needles, or drugs,
Just you, me, daddy, little sister, and a sea of endless hugs.

My little boy, bundled in blue,
You stayed with us 48 hours plus two.
I listened to every rapid heartbeat, right until your last,
I imagined you'd return to a sea of stars so vast.

We captured every moment in photos and on film,
The entire two days death was at the helm,
My little joy, bundled in blue,
For Nine months, a day, and forever, mommy will carry you.

He pulls away, precariously balanced
above the raucous creek slicing through
the campground’s city-like togetherness

she protectively hovers, hands cupped
inches from his slender back, prepared to grab
honoring his need for independence

the crooked lodge pole leans
toward what little sun is bestowed
upon it by its larger brethren

a mother, a child
a tree, a stream
soft light.