LOSING ONE'S SELF

she's only
being 3
for the last three days

she wakes
in the pitch
black of night

cries out because
she can not see
herself

"I've lost me...
. . .I've
lost me!"

the candle comforts her
gives her her self
back again

I stroke her hair.
"Shhhh...shhhh...
I'm here!"

sleep
takes her
away from me

In the morning
she laughs
to see Daddy

asleep beside her
she strokes my hair.
"Shhhh....shhhh...I'm here!"