He Sleeps

I held you while you slept

Curls damp against my cheek

Weight heavy on my chest

I rocked you and breathed in your baby breath

Your soon to be little boy breath

And I stilled

Time folded back and I remembered holding you before

In my belly, when you were the size of a wish

On my chest, when you were minutes old

I held you when you couldn't crawl

Then when you couldn't walk

Then when you couldn't run

You are so precious to me

So precious that I will go on holding you forever

First within, then in my arms, and when you are too big, as always, in my heart.