As If My Child

You
so
fragile
and
frail
those
last
few
years
almost
ghost-like
following
you
down
the
stairs
to
catch
you
so afraid
you
would
fall.

You
yelling
and
screaming
at
me
to
leave
you
alone
and
other
times
clinging
to
me
or
Louis
for
support
never
knowing
what
you
really
wanted

how
I
wanted
you
not
to
be
in
pain
how
terrified
I
was
when
you
would
slip
as
you
walked
even
when
you
went
a
few
feet
to
the
bathroom
I
would
worry
sick
about
you --
could
you
make
it?

And
driving
when
I
had
to
slam
on
the
brakes
and
instinctively
reached
out
to
hold
you
to
protect
you
to keep
you
safe
and
you
so
child-like
and
innocent
much
of
time
burning
my
heart
with
your
softness
tenderness
sleeping
next
to
me
in
the
car
you
shattered
me
more
with
your
gentleness
than
with
your
wrath.