nine oh seven

distant day peeks past curtain’s edge

my whole world 

is in this darkened room 

where

birdsong floats 

between sustained piano notes

your mom, half-submerged in water, pushes

again and again and

again while

the music 

continues

soothing and sweet 

melancholy

haunting and hopeful

when all of a sudden

there you are

your face upturned to ours

pulling in your first breath

the sound of your throat as it clears

so much yet unsaid

and still the birds sing

as the chords of ‘aisatsana’ ring

quietly

in your ears

the first song you ever hear