Our daughter
now approaching her ninth month
her circumference nearly doubled
her face radiant
on the screen where we have gathered
for the baby shower
family and friends on track to celebrate
with her and with her husband
their firstborn
who's scheduled for a landing
in six weeks

Such joy such optimism
for a child with only
reasonable odds of making it
past her first weeks
her first months and beyond
given what the ultrasound has shown

At birth, I learned, a baby
has three hundred bones
of which about one half
fuse early on
so we adults are blessed
with just a few
more than two hundred
may this precious infant live
till all the bones
that need to fuse
have fused
and after that
enjoy long life and health
and may she be
a blessing to herself
and all who come to know her