Lyrics

I was there when you were born.

I was there when you started your descent down, deep down, into the vortex of your mother.

I was there when you, in your own exquisite timing, continued your descent
down, deep down into the primordial channel of your mother. I was there
when you, in your own exquisite timing, reflected, as the moon, the ancient
song of the universe. Pushing, pausing... pushing, pausing... testing for
dilation in your mother's womb. Pushing again... pausing again... A woman's
voice speaking to your mother. Bear down now... wait... bear down now...
wait.

I was there when you, in your own exquisite timing, verified the reverse
path of the kundalinic serpent, your mortal coil twisting towards the gateway of life.

And I was there when you, in your own exquisite timing, came bursting
forth, bursting forth! Clinging for dear life to the back of the tyger of
rippling muscles and gushing waters!

And I was there! My hands shaking and my heart pounding as I tried to film
your arrival for your parents, hoping to God that I wasn't shooting the
laundry basket.

And I was there when you, in your own exquisite timing, came to a full stop
into the loving cup of your mother's hands.

Facing us all with the unblinking 360-degree stillness of a little old
blind man.

And I was there when they bound and swaddled you in white linen.
White, the colour of truth.

And it is I that found you this week in your apartment. Your sixteen years
now cupped within the tangle of your own bruised arms and record
collection. And it is I that bound and swaddled your wrists in white linen.
White, the colour of truth.

And it is I who sits beside you in this quiet room, as you face, with
unblinking stillness, the privacy curtain... you looking younger now than
when you were born.

And it is I that is remembering for you how hard you fought to gain entry
to this life... is remembering for you the long descent down, deep down
into the vortex of your mother... is remembering for you the strength and
fierceness with which you ensured your entrance to this world... a rite of
passage so deliberately difficult that all other trials would be acceptable
by comparison.

I am here because I was there. And I am here because I know you are giving
birth to yourself again. And I am here because I am not fooled by the drugs
and defiant posters. I am here as a figure of recognition as you push and
pause, push and pause through your sixteen years. Dilating your soul until
once again, in your own exquisite timing, the life force will flicker,
flare up behind the gateway of your uncomprehending eyes, sending the
recognition of self rushing forward, clinging for dear life to the back of
the tyger of rippling muscles and gushing waters.

And I am here, telling you, over and over again, the story of your birth.
For you will be born again and again. Even as you gather yourself beneath
yourself. Even as you gather yourself beneath yourself to send your force
forth once more. Well beyond your sixteen years.

I was there when you were born.
I was there when you started your descent down, deep down into the
primordial vortex of your mother.

And I was there
When your triumphant cry
Rang out upon the world
Like a symphony of bells.