HERE NOW I HOLD YOU

Here now
I hold you

astonished at
your newness.

One hand
cups your ***

the other
cradles your head

you **** into my palm.

You smile
your smile

still unused to it
and its magic

wave a tiny lazy hand
as if you were royal

& I an adoring
subject.

The music of you
plays

in my mind
as if I were

a mechanical piano
notes played by invisible hands.

Your skull
has yet to get it together

the fontanelle pulsing
as if each thought could be seen

beating like a bird
against my hushed fingertips.

Years later
my hands so much older now

I cradle your crying
stroke your punk goth hair

as you weep
over your first 'real' boyfriend

(he obviously a ****)  

your constant wailing: 'Why...
... didn't it work! '

My fingertips
caressing where thought once pulsed

your sweet secret self
hidden from me now

in your growing up.