The first time I laid eyes on you I knew
I knew from the way you moved your jaw
The way you looked around and lifted your arms
The way your shoulders slumped because of
What they did to you
I didn't even know who they were
Or your name
But I saw you
You were blue and brown and gray
And white
all struggle and squishy
You drew great breaths though
Huge inhalations that sucked in
Everything around you
Then you exhaled them all
But not me
Because I saw you
And I came with a secret
I whispered it to you
And you froze
You looked at me and asked
'You can see me? '
YES, I sang
And then you slid away
But I followed and drew you pictures
I wrote great big swooping letters in the sky
That only you could see.
I wore bright colors that only you could hear
I danced just for you
And it worked
You lifted up rising
Rising you swam
Swimming you shook
And then you drew a breath
Slow and deliberate
The first one
You took it all in
I watched
You rose higher and higher
I sang out to you
Don't forget me
But you were already gone
I sat for a long time puzzled
Then a distant spot appeared
It grew bigger and bigger
Until I saw it was you
You had wings
You were tall and brilliant white and gold
You laughed and the heavens shook
You smiled and hearts gathered
You touched and the world held its breath
Waiting
At last you are here
I am he, I said
I know who you are, you replied
Then you bent down and whispered
Your secret
And lifting up I grew
With outstretched wings
I Too rose up and springing
Into the wind
Together
The earth drew away
And nightfall faded
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem