I was tired this morning
yearning for the quiet of a few still moments
on my couch
in mid-morning splendour
my sixteen-month old plays
making soft cooing sounds
the patter of toddler-walk
the silence and intermittent sigh of
concentrated play
with tow truck of many-wheeled fascination
how did he know
this early-in-life one
bobbing around the room
how did he know his mother needed
this time of long inhale and exhale
he approaches
occasionally touching my hair
touching my feet with a sensitivity reserved
for butterfly wings
how did this toddler-being
have the presence of mind and heart
to grant me this couch moment
a moment
I might add
that extended itself
to almost a full sixty minutes
my grateful heart felt his touch
and silence
my grateful heart felt
his vast consideration
Annie Kiyonaga
2001