worth

small hands grip my arm
as she pulls herself into my waiting lap
iceberg feet slide under my warm leg
then in one flawless motion
she pulls my arm around her
and tucks our shared blanket under her chin
she sighs and rests her head on my chest

then i know my worth
player of games
singer of songs
writer of words
maker of chocolate milk
warmer of feet

i watch her change each day
and in her quicksilver moments
i sometimes see myself
in her humor and stubbornness
i see her mother
in her determination and impatience
i see her uncle john
in her intelligence and impetuousness
i see her uncle mikey
in her energy and temper

i wonder what she sees in us
as different as the four seasons
but still alike as siblings will be
united by our love of her

yet, she treats each of us
as if we were her favorite
smiling that special smile
small hand tucked safely
in a larger, loving one

i hope so much for her

that she will take the best
within each of us
and make it her own

that she will learn from our mistakes
so that her life is less troubled

that she will one day
read the words i wrote about her
and know she was loved

but mostly that she will
look into each of our eyes
and always find her worth

Danye's Moon

as we cross a bridge to I don’t remember where
her voice floats towards me from behind
“momma, look! my boat!” she says excitedly
“why is he out there at night,” she wonders
“he’s catching moonbeams just for you,”
her mother says and I am awed by it
“ooooo,” says my niece, eyes shining
the moonlight making her face glow
she’s so lovely, like a moonbeam herself
shimmering radiance, inspiring beauty
she leans closer to the window, looking
“oh, momma, there it is,” she says smiling
“my moon! isn’t it beautiful?” eyes sparkling
yes, it is, but not near as beautiful as danye