Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Memory of a Little One

“Teagen!” she cries, her frightened voice
drifting down the hall and through the two
doors separating us.

Her call jolts me awake
from my attempt at a nap beside my
love’s warm body—soft, sculpted, secure,
though he has yet to see that
in himself.

Her room is a tumble of stuffed
toys, blankets, and dress up clothes.
At the white and pink bed, she
half sits, half stands, rubbing her
eyes, blonde hair tousled.

“What is it, baby?” Kneeling before
her pink clothed form, frail and small,
the only word she seems to know is no.

Wrapped gently in my arms, her head
lolls on my shoulder. She is a stubborn
one, determined her naptime is over
and her father, my love, will not do; in my lap,
she sits and makes a bed of my belly and bosom

where she alternates between quiet contentedness
and a restless search for awakeness.
The soothing swaying of the armchair is spoiled by
incessant squeaking, so I settle for holding her
and renew the search for my own sleep.

Moments later, she slips from my lap
in a whirlwind of energy, and begs, jumping—

her white blonde curls flying up—for the movie with cat bus.

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