A Piece of Me

(from Brainstorms)

She said, “I wanna snuggle up with you, Mama.”

I leaned against the headboard as she climbed on me,
curled herself into a ball like a kitten,
and laid her head upon my heart.

I kissed her crown and let my lips linger
in her soft curls.

I bent my head to meet hers and rested it there
until I heard her breathing, long and slow.

Sleeping.

I kissed her again and gently squeezed the tender body
that not too long ago had been a part of mine.

And we lay there as I watched the sky turn to dusk,
knowing that she will always be a piece of me.

And I, her.