Sweet eloquent being,
           The intricacy of your soul astounds
even me.
I carried it, and you, within me
For what seemed an eternity,
       and now appears as time too quickly relinquished.
In the wake of your existence, unto this
                              my world,
I beheld each breath that filled your body
    too sudden,
    too silent.
I found solace in your contentment
and anguish in your contempt.
    I withheld a perverse fear of death,
that broke my dreams with endless, torturous visions
                             of life without
your innocent love.
Upon weary shoulders was borne,
is borne
The immeasurable, boundless responsibility
           to mold you into what even I will envy.
And upon this night, I know,
Renewed, reborn in knowledge ~
That as I press a caressing hand to your back,
            though the burden is not lifted, lessened
nor shared,
I can recognize,  ..imagine within myself,
                          Find the power, the strength I need to be a
Friend,
Guide,
Mentor,
Idol,
Ally,
Companion,
Protector,

mother

...from the delicate softness of your face
                                              your soul
when you smile in your sleep.

alli nov 28, 95,
1:35am
modified july 98