a life

little tiny heart

thumping, thumping

little tiny beautiful body

resting in the quiet dark

waiting

growing

little baby heart

lurching and crying

lights are bright

air is cold

voices are loud, ecstatic

everything bangs

tiny soothing heart

quiet, trusting

warm skin on warm skin

learning of mother

of safety

of love

treasured little heart

beating stronger

exploring a bright world

crawling, walking, leaping

sometimes falling

the world is also hard

selfish little heart

ears plugged

crowns its own kings

beats its own blood

brushes off loving wounds

charges reckless on

broken heart, undone

discovers an unkind world 

pounds in anguish

it will not yield

if we are not king

who is?

empty heart and soft

finds it filled, restored

held in rhythm

by a strong enough hand

grieved indeed

but rejoices

little beating heart of flesh
pulses to serve, yet fights
little beating heart
whispers how long, how long
it is fragile
and knows it

weary burdened heart
a road so long
a sky so dark
it is too much
too much to bear
alone

precious ransomed heart
you cannot be alone
I promised
would I lie?
do not waste these last days
live well
and then come home