You are my beginning
My ray of light
The first to breathe
Say “Mama”
And whisper “I love you”
To hold and be held
With you, I learn
From you, I study
Beside you, I discover
Glancing at the path ahead
As my first growing child
You receive
The mirror you need to grow

You are my middle
Creeping through those middle years
In the midst of self discovery
A link between mother and father
A viewfinder for generations
Past and future
Enjoying each moment as we live it
As my middle child you get
Undisturbed moments to explore
Less expectation
More chances
To find your true voice

You are my end
Completing my sensed imperative
Concluding each page
We face forward
Ending one stage after another
Clothes too small, toys outgrown
We pass them on
Making room for what’s new
Gently looking over past’s shoulder
As my last child, the baby
You gain extra indulgences
The chance to luxuriate in being young
Until you’re ready to move on

Three in one
You’re pure joy
You pave your own way
Ride your bike
And leave glitter in your wake
When you want me to watch
I lift my head to see
When you need your own time
I tend myself to me

Parent and child
There is no ending
Except to the purely selfish self
Child and parent
There’s no beginning
Except the dawn of inalterable love

Always in the middle
We remain forever in each other’s orbit

As our hearts beat
And our lungs expand
With nary a thought
Likewise I live
Your Mama moon
Eternally, silently, gratefully nearby
Lighting up the dark sky
And glowing for having known you