In the dark of night,
she rocks and hums
her hand rubbing circles upon her baby’s back
he hiccoughs
tucks his small feet against her warmth
slips into slumber
she rocks and hums until dawn
In the dark of night,
she paces and frets
her lips pressed to his forehead
measuring his heat
as he cries, “Mommy, make it better!”
she stretches out next to him
wrapping him in her love
as she wills away his pain
In the dark of night,
she listens and waits
her body tense and alert
until the clicking of key in lock
the signal that he’s safe
his voice floats on moonlight, “I’m home”
In the dark of night,
she sits and cries
as he unburdens his fears
her arms ache to hold him, rock him again
she longs to take away his pain, shelter him from harm
In the dark of night,
she rocks and weeps
her hand rubbing circles over her heartbreak
her fingers long to stroke his hair, touch his cheek
her kiss longs to linger on his brow just one more time
her despair flows
endless and evermore
Copyright 2012 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman
