Mother held you first, Daughter,
on that morning when dawn surpassed
the birth of former days. On that morning
I was there, all fired up and manly in the midst of it,
I witnessed you in Mother’s arms when
your eyes beheld life for the very first time.
You were not blind or blurry eyed, Daughter!
You looked long upon our faces. You saw things.
We cannot know what you thought, yet I held you next
and I knew you then—my deep well of hope!


Happy Birthday, Darling Caitlin!
My Pride, My Happiness, My Hope!