Rwandan Daughter

before small lungs swelled
with warm vanilla air
before the flutter of thin eyelids

and the waking of a soul
before the cord and root
and toes uncurling from feet

unfolding from limbs
tucked under a girl
in a shadow world of cells combining, dividing

before the xx chromosome
before her father
before her mother

in the underbrush of a heart
where hope grows in wildflowers
over the rugged expanse

of dreams and dares
in the place where God whispers
you were born

i wrapped you in the colors
of your country
held you to the drum of my heart

promised that someday i would find
you tucked in the folds of time
waiting to settle

the landscape
of open
empty arms