Sadness Comes In Waves

(from Brainstorms)

Sadness comes in waves,
its triggers unpredictable.

One day the sight of my daughter
laughing with her friends in dance class
sent me over the edge.

Sometimes it’s the feel of her hand in my grip,
and the knowing I will need to release it.

She places her index finger on my nose
and asks me to do the same to her.
Our foreheads touch as we kiss goodnight.
She says she saw someone do that
on an airplane once.

There are times when I have the urge
to engulf her and squeeze so tightly,
as though I was pulling her
back into my womb.

It takes all my strength to loosen the grip,
giving her room to become herself,
though I would keep her
wrapped up in my love forever.