The sweet breath of a sleeping child

Tiny fingers curled

Little nails in crescent moons

The soft song of a mother's lullaby

As she rocks her reason to live.

A father's helping hand

As he guides faltering first steps

The first whirrs of bicycle chains

The first hum of an engine.

The Imaginary friends that whisper in ears

As little hands grip blocky crayons

And soft noses inhale the sweet scent of a mother's perfume.

 

A friend's secretive smile

As they pass creased paper under a desk.

As mascara runs down her face at midnight

When she calls for confidence.

As he listens to every word

That spills from your lips

When you can't keep them inside any longer.

A teacher's understanding

As they hand you your rolled diploma

Tied with a satin ribbon

And their eyes are sad

As they reflect on the loss of their children.

 

The first day of your future

As fingers push tacks into unfamiliar walls

And those friends have all disappeared

Though they swore they never would.

The change you feel in yourself

As you move to unfamiliar places

And begin to miss mother's perfume

And father's guiding hand and blocky crayons.

The cafés you visit and people you meet

As you drag yourself out of your past

And, unblinking, stare down your future,

Head held high.

 

Walking with someone who cares

Fingers curled together

The musk of cologne in the air

As you walk away from trouble and pain

And they tell their belief in your strength

And hold you up to the sun

And shout your name to the universe

And look at you with smiling eyes.

Fingers curled together

As they pronounce their commitment

And accompany you to a new life

Driving away from prying eyes.

 

Brisk salt crisps the air

As the gray seeps up from the sea

A single silver star on the horizon.

Moon falling asleep

Sun waking up, rays spilling across the Earth

Light caught in the clouds, trapped

To glow, hopeful, joyful.

A quiet mist like a blanket

Cool wind waking up the trees

Making them whisper.

Dew-kissed roses like drops of vivid blood

Sun-kissed rain-pools like silver mirrors of light

Gray clouds in the middle of the sky.

Night falling away,

Sun rising.