somewhere in the universe
a star explodes
with the brilliance
of an entire galaxy-
like my Grandson's birth.
The moment
Ethan burst forth,
all slip and slime,
and loud and lusty squawks,
nothing compared
to his new brilliance,
His naked chest rising, falling,
his wee, wet features,
the shape of his full lips,
all ten tiny fingers,
the curve of his matted hair-
the vast, new light
of his being.
When I cradled
his soft, damp flesh,
he quieted. He listened.
I said, How lucky we are
to have you in our world,
How wonderful it is to see you.
I told him, The moon and stars
welcome you-
and your older brother
can't wait to meet you.
I told him, We loved you
even before you were born.
One year later
a toy is whatever he can find-
a bit of paper, a string, a box.
He's fickle and in seconds
he toddles, waddles, laughs
from one infatuation to another.
Sometimes Ethan,
-our new star-
runs to me.
