Lullabies
And she tucks me in at night.
I used to hear her
in the air,
whispers, whispers
bouncing around
my skull
reminders that
I would never be alone
but one day she stopped them
reminding me that her love
is a gust of wind
to come and linger,
and when she is away
reminiscences of her stay soft like a breeze
and she tucks me in at night
I remember chocolate cherries
and young bones
not yet ready to be altered
they are now older
and the popping
is a more reassuring sound
and she tucks me in at night
the smell of cream and sugar
always lingered
faint, soft morning breaths
the milk is no longer as sweet
I go without
the familiar taste now lingers on my breath.
and she tucks me in at night
the mannerisms are sewn into
the maternal patches left on my
skin from childhood,
her love settled into my bones
she is all of me
and she tucks me in at night.