She wakes to the cries of her baby
Slowly rising from the bed so soft
Knowing all he needs is to be held
And feel the comfort of her touch
The newness of this human life so small
She never realized she had such a capacity to care

She reaches for him, does he know how much she cares?
Lifting him from the crib she caresses this baby
Arms, legs, fingers, toes fragile and small
She brings him close in blankets soft
Everything about him is pleasing to her touch
Her child, her heart, she holds

Rhythmically she rocks as she’s holding
Her son to her breast with care
As close as two humans can touch
How sweet it feels to nurture her baby
He must find such comfort nuzzling her breast so soft
Adoringly she watches his delicate nose, ears and eyes, all small

These special moments, no matter how small
Forever in her heart she’ll hold
She can’t resist kissing him softly
Grateful God placed him in her care
Amazing how this baby
Can alter every life it touches

She resumes rocking, cradling his head as he touches
Her gently with hands so small
This must be how her mother felt with each new baby
Part of the universal club of motherhood holding
A most important life entrusted in her care
Revealing forever a side that’s soft

Without him she never would have known the softness
That comes to a mother through her child’s touch
She never would have had the chance to care
For a fragile, delicate, gentle life so small
Or experience all the joy a heart can hold
Once given the gift of a baby

Her life is enriched by caring for this small life
How softly and profoundly he has touched her
As he matures she will hold him always in her heart as a baby

(This poem is a sestina, a poem of six six-line stanzas and a three-line last stanza or envoy. Each stanza repeats the end words of the lines of the first stanza, but in different order. The last stanza or envoy uses the six words again).