As snow fell,
morning came near,
born at home, on the bathroom floor.
Mom crouched,
barefoot, in her pajamas
over the swept tiles,
because that's where I decided to arrive.
I came too fast for anyone,
glancing around as soon as Dad wiped his hand around inside my mouth.
To hear Mom tell it,
I was silent, yet amazed.
This world amazed me in my young years.
Dad named me Melissa Clare
he wanted a girl,
and that's what he got.
A chubby little baby girl
with big lips
and beautiful green eyes.
He got a brunette, wide-faced, short-legged girl
with a fondness for applesauce
and a hunger for singing her heart out.
From the earliest I can remember
I've been comfortable in this wonderful place we call home.
Always getting in Mom's way with my nosey self.
By the summer when I was about 10 Dad enjoyed every moment of having a girl,
he and mom spoiled me rotten.
I look a lot like him,
I can handle myself almost everywhere he puts me,
even on the tractor,
though I didn't like that much.
Mom never tried having any other babies.
Chris and I were just enough...
and every morning,
I'm sure she thanks the lord.
Other than the four of us
there's not much family to speak of.
All our other relatives live in Cleveland.
Grandpa died at the age of 93,
we sure do miss him.
Mom's father died too,
before I was born though.
Chris and I are almost 5 years apart,
He's now living in Kentucky,
a ways south of here
and in college studying.
Dad passed away in '01,
and Mom with only Chris and I
still young.
We love her a lot.
Just wish she wasn't hurting so much.
I'll be nearly fifteen
but I've got 7 more months to go.
Wonder what will happen when I'm fifteen.
