Before Your First Word

I'll be the voice I waited for When you call out at night. I'll teach you kinder words than those That I was taught were right. I slept beneath the stairs, my loves, And wished for this instead: A hand to smooth my tangled hair, A kiss upon my head. So wake me for a glass of milk, Or when the night feels long. You won't be left to cry alone; I'll stay and sing this song. Sleep, our daughter; sleep, our son. Our love is not a prize you've won. Before your first word, before your name, We loved you then; we love you the same. Nothing to earn, nothing to prove - Only the sound of us loving you. My father said our blood was best; I thought his words were true. I learned to hurt with words like his. I won't teach those to you. Your father reached for me through fire; He would not turn away. He showed me I could choose to change - I make that choice each day. Sleep, our daughter; sleep, our son. Our love is not a prize you've won. Before your first word, before your name, We loved you then; we love you the same. Nothing to earn, nothing to prove - Only the sound of us loving you. May all your summer days run long, With grass stains on your knees. No world to save before you're grown - Just kites caught in the trees. No blood can make a person less; No name can make them more. Bring home the friend whose coat is torn; We'll greet them at the door. And if we ever raise our voice, We'll stop and make it right. You'll hear "I'm sorry" from us, too, Before we say goodnight. Sleep, our daughter; sleep, our son. Our love is not a prize you've won. Before your first word, before your name, We loved you then; we love you the same. Nothing to earn, nothing to prove - Only the sound of us loving you. One kiss for you. And one for you. One more, just because. Sleep, our loves.