To Kate

Posted on 22 February 2010

I wish you a happy birthday.
Birth you on this day here. For you dear.
Just you. You! I wish you so happy on this day.
On each day. On everyday.
Wishes for birth of an everyday kind,
every minute birth, second birth,
deep as contractions. An infant and cake kind.
And icing. And candles.
Every instant those eye flames more guttering
and gathering as each year’s cake breathing
brings mothering kind more here
than fear and pain kept here when we see
what goes on here as each birth
that’s born anywhere turns to so unclear
until in the next breath
we undo the hard death
and reborn the infant and mother and father
on each day and everyday
the moments of birthday,
a kind day, a wish day
on your day,
this birthday.