Karin

Dear Amy,

Soon after we moved back to the U.S. from Bosnia, a few of my women friends initiated a group of us to sing together for some event.  We enjoyed it so much we did it again.  And added some more women friends.  And soon, we had a group of 12 women that gathered in each others' living rooms every week for the next eight years.  We sang, we talked and we performed many, many times.  We sang each other through life transitions:  the birth of our children, death of our parents/siblings, marriage, divorce, empty nest, infertility, graduations, new jobs, sickness, etc. 

During those years, both of my children were born.  They were surrounded by the voices of women from their days in the womb to the many evenings of being passed around the circle while we sang. The night before the birth of my second child, we performed this song in a local bookstore in honor of the upcoming birth. Though I was convinced I was having another boy, much to my surprise, Mabel Virginia was born.  We played this song over and over to welcome her into the world.  A few months later, the women of Full Circle sang this song again at our church as we dedicated ourselves to nurturing her in body and spirit.

And now I share it with you as you welcome your little Queen of the Earth, Child of the Stars.

Queen Of The Earth, Child Of The Stars Leela Grace  

On the night that you were born, I looked out the window to the sky
And the brilliant stars sang to me as you uttered your first cry
I looked down into your face and saw stars shining in your eyes
My small queen of the earth, child of the stars  

I held you in my arms and sang you to sleep
And your face shone so bright, I could not but with joy weep
I knew with every passing hour my love for you would grow more deep
My small queen of the earth, child of the stars

As you opened your wide eyes and held my gaze with your own
I could see, with aching joy, you dancing from me when you’re grown
But wherever you go, my darling, know you’ll never be alone
My small queen of the earth, child of the stars

(© 1998 Leela Grace, BMI)

The original by Leela and Ellie Grace:  https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/11%20Queen%20Of%20The%20Earth%2C%20Child%20Of%20The.m4a?_subject_uid=161626963&w=AADOP09iXQ8Z7h7oHHlOTg0DEaIJPhJvYXUiTLvvQDt3lA

A rendition by the women of Full Circle: https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/10%20Track%2010%207.m4a?_subject_uid=161626963&w=AADFwFDgQLq_vWK4p1CDlhfafOIhWbtii2eQGDlUtrG78w

Much love to you,

Karin