Teflon Mom

I place my lips upon her fevered brow
May I absorb her sickness all, somehow
Not to join, but to replace hers, see?
May all her pain come rather into me

I breathe a prayer, a mother's prayer

I will myself a Teflon mom to be
Her germs slip off rather than stick to me
So then I may continue to be there
With water cool, my hand upon her hair

I breathe a prayer, a mother's prayer

An honor to hold back her tender curls
As she her stomach swiftly empties out
For in this moment, I am emptied, too
As my mother was for me, and hers for her

And on and on it goes, throughout all time
I feel the strength of Mama's hand in mine
Then in my weary state, I am renewed
With courage and new strength I am imbued

Years from now and in the hours wee
My daughter may then find herself to be
Washing the back of one so young and fair
And holding back her tender curls of hair

And though I may be gone or far away
I will be there with her that tiresome day
My voice of comfort echo in her head
To calm the voice of fear, the sense of dread

And on and on it goes throughout all time
I breathe a prayer, a mother's prayer for this sweet child of mine