The dawn had not begun yet
but I was awake and it had
been a night of starlight only
and no mothers up to nest
The sky began to color
and the hills were gilded early
but that gold had not yet touched us
not the hatchling, and not me
She was probably the last one
to emerge because they have to
make their birth march to the waters
in the haven of the dark
But the light had not yet found
the deeper pockets where we were
All the world held still as smallest
nose to ocean pushed on seaward
and the coiled-up urge of ages
drew her tiny body on
So that when the last wave took her
my held breath rushed outward also
as the the slopes of this Hawaiian beach
began to kissthe sun
