The circle of life

Join me on a reflective journey as we explore the profound cycle of life, seen through the eyes of a girl child from birth to birth. 

She began as a secret in the unlit regions of the womb
The path of least resistance
The inevitable choice if nature is left to its whims
And this in essence defines her very nature, gentle and pliable
The quietness of XX, the soft arithmetic of life.

Even in the unlit regions, she Is being prepared for her future roles
An egg dividing within an egg
The wheels of posterity already set in motion
Even before she drew a breath or knew her name
Bearing within her the hopes of the next generation

She arrived not quietly at all, but as wailing mass
With clenched fists tugging at the heart of the one that holds her
With eyes full of curiosity observing the world that she is tasked to preserve Full of fire, hope and love she learns the weight of gravity
Full of defiance, she rises again and again

Childhood is lived in the sunlight and laughter
Scrapped knees but stubborn dreams
Questions spilling out unplanned, answers tucked away
Learning obedience for a world she will soon dominate
Handling responsibilities before delegation

As a daughter, she was both root and branch
An anchor for the present and a tendril shooting off into the future Recipes handed down across dinner tables
Exchanging toys for expectations
All clutched in not so little hands

In sisterhood, she learned the power of community
Whispered secrets and shared stories under the moonlight Reflection in the faces of others not mirrors
One for all and all for one
The echoes of her clan

Out into the world she marched
Commanding the world to make room for her
Carrying on even when no one clapped
Her voice ringing with authority, clear enough to matter
Merging gentleness with a backbone of steel

And soon she steps into her role as a wife
Exchanging one name for another without losing herself
With enough love in her heart for another
Fluid yet consistent
Home, hearth and love

Soon she clutches another in her arms
A new beginning, a new generation
A role she was prepared for, even before she had a name
And yet she still finds that she has enough love to give Completing the circle of life