The baby who resides inside
reaches out her arms
to each passerby —
wanting, aching
arching outward
to fill the hole that
floods her.
Like a wave, she rises up,
ecstatic, full, believing —
then quickly falls,
unsoothable – she knows
they all will fail her,
as they must.
Only I
I learned it once and twice
and now must learn again,
only I can love her
as she needs,
as she weeps,
take her reaching arms
and gently tuck them in
beside her, bundle
up her sweet petunia
in my firm insistent arms
that know her wholeness
and will not let her
flail and wander
any longer.
Photo by Kristina Paukshtite from Pexels
