A child reached out for my hand today
his sweet nugget fingers sticky with morning life,
it felt as natural as breath.
I did not know little he nor he me
but I knew his touch
for it surely was my own
reaching for something safe.
I looked down he looked up
a laugh escaped our lips
before words from strangers
made light of our moment –
a tug on my arm
that released a flood from my heart
and a trail of sweet salt water upon my cheek.
