Fair Niece, 1989

Fair Niece, 1989, originally uploaded by confections.

"Moonchild"

a poem in a variation of the Malayan Pantoum Form


She crowned as a redhead, we thought,
this wise newborn girl,
fair niece Laken Julia, a moonchild.
Surprise! Her hair is a halo of flax.

This wise newborn girl,
papa and mama's firstborn.
Surprise! Her hair is a halo of flax.
With delicate fingers, she signs in slow-motion.

Papa and mama's firstborn,
her eyes wide open in her first night of life.
With delicate fingers, she signs in slow-motion,
ancient waves of remembering wash through her.

Her eyes wide open in her first night of life.
She crowned as a redhead, we thought,
ancient waves of remembering wash through her,
fair niece Laken Julia, a moonchild.