The first word...

Anonymous

...from our mother’s lips
when the nurse places
our mushy body in her arms.

...we learn to form
by playing peek-a-boo with
pudding all over our face.

...from which we discover
that I is I – and
that you is you.

...we want to echo eternally
across galaxies of stars
because we know it means

I exist. I hope you do too.

Habari. Сайн уу. Kia Ora. Pẹlẹ o. سلام Slav.
Γεια σου. ہیلو Ciao. 你好 Aloha.
Sveiki. привіт. Hej. Nnọọ.
Hola. שלום Xin Cháo.
Salut. Բարեւ Ձեզ.
Hello.