The Bravery of Mothers

I stand alone on the edge of aloneness;

watch you twirl your hair round and

round until the lock slips out—

leaves finger free to trace the curve of my

love.

its outline lingers everywhere

you breathe. And

I hold this tight, cling with my cells…all

the while knowing I mustn’t. you

have me, you know. from first

sound of that tiny drum

heart inside me, from first gaze

into milky--blue

eyes…I was yours. wherever

you go, my heart goes

with you. don’t forget

that, ok? don’t forget how

much you are loved and

do stupid things. promise me,

ok? promise to take good

care of you. no motorcycles, or

skydiving. the earth inside

me groans with each lift of

foot, until it meets solid ground

again. i learn

to walk too. shuffle step to and

fro, careful not to lose what

lies beneath me. but

you soar. I close my

eyes.

and when I open

them, you are

gone.