'unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given' Isaiah 9.6 br br Thus I was born, gory and br gasping unfamiliar air. br A stranger in an alien world, br alone and afraid. br br Separated by the severing br of the umbilical cord - br my bonding delayed br by ritual cleansing. br br Imprisoned in swaddling, br I was finally offered br to the woman who bore me, br and she smelt familiar. br br Instinct found me her breast br and the comfort of her arms. br Her gentle voice reassured, br and I felt safe. br br So this is I. br The ninth letter of the alphabet. br A singular pronoun of the first person. br But this I am yet to learn.