She holds the child to her breast
Gently stroking the girl’s hair,
And wipes the tears off round cheeks.
Her words soft, as if not to scare
The trembling little two year old
Any more than she has already been.
She says, “I love you,” and gives a kiss.
The girl sniffles and tucks her chin,
Shivering and nodding with a sniffle.
Then she says, muffled by the hair,
A fierce, “I love you, too, mommy.”