July july july july july july july july twenty-fifth. seven pounds and twenty-one inches, two thirty-three liquid lungs mucus hair. blue skin scratching air, heartbeat two-thousand and one. beating odds, vile agony, pure pleasure. struggling full digression comfort. warm bodies together. b r e a t h e swollen cheeks. petite vision blurred. sheep eared. curled toes. petite vibrant squeaks. new life eyes bright raised right held tight. mother and daughter, eighteen years apart. never again alone. a bond forever. unbroken. b r e a t h e take. give. take. give. take. take. give. browning hair. bluing eyes, fingered nails. scarred brow, righting hand, raspberry crown. lipped small. first steps fallen cries scrapped knees first tries caudled lies familiar love stolen kisses july july july july july july july
