The princess was fast asleep;
the silence kept watch,
the stars kissed her goodnight
and the moon cuddled close
looming gently in the window,
cold breath caressing her cheeks,
pink in slumber
pale fingers closed over blankets,
a soft stream of fabric
tousled down her calves
bundled around her feet,
soft like her heart,
impressionable, sand
which refuses to let go
of the indecisive ocean.
Sometimes her father would return
to stand at her bedside
in starlight and shadow,
the moon bowing her head,
the stars blowing kisses
to fall upon his cheeks
flecked with grey,
a memento of the years
spent gazing into the night
for answers, and home
because each one he built
was never his own.
He watched his daughter instead;
found meaning in how her chest rose
with each flutter of breath,
found purpose in the one curl
which refused to lie
with the others cupping her chin,
found hope in her lashes
a delicate frame for the fierce love
glistening in her eyes.
He found a reason to live
when even clouds away,
drifting in dreams
he could never touch,
the corners of her mouth
twitched and whispered joy,
she smiled the smallest smile,
she smiled for him,
to save him;
her heart like sand
refusing to let go
of her ocean.
© Kristiana Reed 2018
Nice piece.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ☺️
LikeLike
Would you like to share your content on our open publishing platform?
LikeLike
Interesting how your poem described how the parent needed the child’s emotional support instead of the adult giving the emotional support to the child…
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve always thought parent/child relationships are reciprocal. When people say having a child saved their life, I believe them. There is something pure, untouched and unconditional about a child’s love, that it is healing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
LikeLike
Wow, Kristiana! I do love the images here so much! It’s beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! ☺️
LikeLike
Profound and beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ☺️
LikeLike