four again

the only time i feel like a child is when i’m with my mother
softly, softly, she pats my hair under pale gray skies and over tear stained bed sheets
and i’m 4 again
i beg her to tell me whos face is on the moon
where the stars go in the morning
if they are lonely when they leave us
she gathers me in silk and i beg for her to leave the nightlight on
in my dreams i am small and i run from a bug hidden under my clothes
she tells me i have worries
she makes me soup
i fall tired in the backseat and i’m 4 again
my fever grows with my dred to fall ill
i feel the fluorescent curve of highway cars
and quiet humming to a radio
and i feel safe again