Dandelion mama

We begin this way
purple covers pulled over my eyes
small fingers tugging at the end,
smiles full of morning light
voices like the butterfly wings
feet on wood floors
loud as thunderclap.
Peanut butter and jelly
juice
tea.
our toes plunge into dewy grass sending shivers up my leg
some days you dart back inside for horses, or swords, or capes, or shovels
some days you find your place amongst the rocks and branches
you assembled the day before
you count meticulously and frivolously
in the way that only a four year old can.
Today you picked a dandelion
and gifted me the bent stem and closed bud
and I tried to teach you of a love that
cherishes
and does not covet.
I think you heard me.
You ran around the yard smiling
and kissed every flower you could find.
Days like this I feel that I am made of water
and my heart seeps out of my skin
floats up to the sky
and comes back again as the morning dew on your  feet.
Today an ant crawled up my leg and tickled the sparse hair on my skin
we decided she thought I was a tree
my thick brown trunk firmly planted atop blades of grass.
You put your hand on my knee
palm towards the sun
and waited for the ant to crawl onto your fingers
and then dive
back into the bed of grass.
I think the ant is brave, like you.
Tonight I have only one wish.
That our kisses seep into the infinite strands of your DNA
so that you are filled with the deepest knowing of how precious
how treasured
you are
that your heart remembers the sword fights, wrestling and songs
more than the scoldings
that your eyes continue to hold the deep darkness of the earth
and the wonderous sparkle of the stars
the moon
and the glimmering sun on salty seas
I pray that you always know
how Whole
how Holy
you are

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