To You, My Child
Your beautiful bones
the petals of you
unfolded on the day of your birth
And I am in love
and I am terrified
as they place you in my hands—a sacred trust—
because you come with a guarantee
a guarantee
that you will push me
to the end of my self
to the end of what I am
and I will fail you
It is a guarantee
and so I ask your forgiveness
in advance
I will teach you all I know
and don’t know
and I thank you for leading me to the place of
my lack
my weakness
my need
My child
You revealed to me
the throne of my heart
and it was empty
and you reminded me
to tear down
the bloodthirsty idols of my ancestors
and ask God to sit with me there
and you reminded me
to eat bread with him
and drink wine with him
so that when you reached for me
I had something
to give.
©Amy Axby 2019