A song for Charmian Orr's 21st birthday,
written
at her mother Lorna's request
A canopy of stars spans the evening sky,
the city's dancing lights are spread below:
and the sparkle and the brilliance
of the near and distant lights
are reflected in your smile and in your eyes.
Born of my breathing.
Formed of my loving.
Laughter and tears.
You warm us with your laughter
and you move us with your tears.
An open-hearted giving
takes form in music-making
and hands that, strong and graceful,
move lively through the dance.
Child of my breathing.
Shaped in our loving.
Sharing our years.
Whom once I held, in perfect form,
as infant, face to face,
and hand in hand, in childhood trust,
and woman-child's embrace,
I greet anew as woman grown
as lovely as a summer dawn.
Child of my breathing.
Sharing our loving.
Over our years.
Words: © Neil
Quintrell
Music: © Doug
Simper
