Mother

She caresses my cheek

as if to reassure me.

But I do not know 

that this touch is sacred

for I am too young to realize

that her touch is not forever.

She smiles 

as if to reassure me.

She paints our smiles on a blank canvas

with the family she started on her own.

Her tears fell,

they did not reassure me.

She swept me into her arms 

and showed me my oppurtunities.

But I did not know 

at what cost it had taken her to give me these.

She kissed me gently

and whispered into my small ear,

your family will always be here. 

She reassured me.