the baby doesn't know
the arms rocking him are bones
the woman feeding him is
weening him
onto life by
weening
herself
off

he doesn't see
her teardrops through his
own
he doesn't see
her eyes droop as his
close

she does her best to
save him
even if she cannot
raise him
and the lullabies get
softer

slower
shorter
still

the baby doesn't know