Constellations of Destiny
by
Radiance Angelina Petro

In her crib she looks up at the mobile—
a little solar system in the air. She moves
her hands in her spasmodic way—
they look uncontrolled, senseless—but look closer—
she’s tracing lemniscates with her fingers,
she’s inscribing galaxies above her,
constellations of destiny, placing stars
in their places, making the sign of the cross—
her eyes wide with wonder and authority,
her coos of satisfaction, her powers unlimited,
her mind as wide as the world, ever
and ever dreaming of more.