a matter of life and death

i'm sitting down to write with that maternity floor, antibacterial, new baby, scented soap on my hands.  little known fact about me:  that smell makes me swoony.  i watched a baby boy take some of his first breaths today.  i looked at his little face.  his someday quirky smile.  i changed his diaper.  and all the while i'm thinking what hope you have.  what things you can be.  you have so much time.  then i walk down two floors and i hold the hand of a mother who loved us like her own.  i remember her smile.  i hear her voice in my head.  and i say to her life is good.  you are a good mother.  you are so loved.  and i realize that time is fleeting.  the amount between our first and last breaths infinitesimal.