stare at my unfinished tattoo
hand-sewn heart & letters
stretch the skin & trace the lines
remember who I live for
how proud I am of them
& excited for who they're becoming.

A, now so much like me
but so young, naive, pure & green
came to similar conclusions
when we asked different questions
I didn't know she liked hockey

J, newly enamoured with books
so handsome & ever-increasingly charming
all the ladies (even the older, 'taken' ones)
swoon when he flutters his long lashes
& he blushes with a shy boyish smile

T, my girl. little doppelganger
reincarnation of myself, for better or worse
especially connected always
20 & 5, brunette hair from both heads
thrown wildly over the pillows,
foreheads touched together,
eyes closed & sleep blown,
arms flung over the other

E, little kitten, family baby
never fails to bring a smile
bubble of sunshine
laughs constantly
except when she doesn't