This was written for my beautiful daughter, Isla.

I felt you,

Felt you growing inside me.

The whisper of your movement

The percussion of your heartbeat

The sharp stab of a foot or arm

Adjusting to limited space.

I dreamed of you.

And one day,

There you were,

Fully formed,

Beautiful.

No time for a water birth

You rocketed into the world

Like a shooting star.

When you took your first bath

I swear you smiled.

And priceless as you are,

You’ve been a

Child of light

Ever since.