twenty years ago tonight
i shared with the world a tiny secret
that i carried beneath my heart
tucked away with a life of her own
the impending arrival of my little one
shared with all
was greeted with handclaps and laughter
and tears
so loved and wanted
from the very, very beginning
barely formed two cells together
and already we were dreaming and planning
and tossing around names
one name stuck that night
“the mouse”
my Daddy could be so clever at times
twenty years ago tonight
i had stars in my eyes
joy in my heart
and a little fear too, if i’m being honest
i felt quite small and inadequate
to do the task before me,
to enter the “otherworld” of being mama
twenty years ago tonight
i had no idea the joy and worry
i would feel over this little one–
but mostly joy
and pride too,
and love
all the love
all the joy
never could i have dreamed that the little one
growing beneath my heart
would one day carry it in her hands
and become my best friend
tonight i weep a little
that four of those who celebrated
with me
that night are gone
the story is left for just two of us to share now–
of that night and the laughter and the excitement
and the hugs and the hope
she is our hope
for all the good things to come
twenty years
how is that possible
just yesterday i was barely beyond that
and awaiting her arrival
my little mouse
with the roar of a lion
she will change this world
for the better
just as she already has
mine

Beautiful
Thank you Miss Sue. Love you.