Turns out this is your birthday
Or it had better be
1030 am and the sun is beautiful outside
Brooklyn New York
The year of our lord 2021
Praise Jesus
Van Morrison singing through the iPad on the glass counter
“These dreams of you”
It’s off moon dance
Your mama
Bouncing on a big blue birthing ball
Wearing my maroon robe
On a light blue towel
Legs wrapped around it like riding a cosmic horse
Her big belly sticking out
And your place in it descending
The crown of your head fighting through her uterus
Deep
your little legs kicking and moving your way down
Dance partners
You and your mama
An internal dance
Mystical and sacred
The breath of life fighting it’s way into the world
To take flight of renewal.
“Yes it feels like
Yes it seems like
A brand new day “
Van Morrison singing
Lord Jesus help me
Your mama says not screaming but with pain
Pushing inbetween breaths
When the contractions stop I tell her I love her and that she’s doing great.
I’m watching her go through a heroic journey to bring you here.
The dance continues
From the birthing ball
Back to the tub
Blankets all over our bathroom floor
We have both taken naps there
Here and everywhere
She sleeps five minutes between giant waves
Of thunder within announcing your arrival
Hey baby I’m gonna run a hot bath
Ok
Do you need anything?
No I’m ok
I keep giving her electrolytes
In concentration form and the fancy coconut water
I think she’s running the bath you’re about to be born in.
What a dance
We are about thirty hours into the process.
Your head coming lower
The outline starting to appear
Just before the exit door.
The world awaits
What a world you are coming too.
What a world.
“Oh the water oh oh the water
Get it myself from the mountain stream
And it stoned me to my soul
Stoned me just like going home “
Van keeps singing
We’re in the bathroom again. She’s in the bath
Turns out I ran it
Every moment
Every action having more weight knowing you’re about to make your arrival
What an endurance race this dance you and your mama are doing is
So many times
You just want to pause it
And start again tomorrow
Get some rest
And rejuvenate
And hit it again tomorrow
But that’s not how this goes
The apartment is upside down
Half the couch is on the bed
Half the bed is in the bathroom
Spiritual forces turning our cave upside down
To make way for your entry.