Coming of Age

Nisha's sister Brita brought
her baby up to school today.

She's fifteen--
a mother for nine days
holding this tiny man

We passed him around
cooed and aaahhed
and smiled.

Then passed him back
to his mama
half-my-age
who I remember
at eleven
standing on stage
for a job well done
certificate in hand.

This little one
in a few short years
will trot through the doors
of our school

Babies growing up
to be children
girls growing up
to be mothers

May you both know kindness
to get you through the long nights
when morning seems
forever away