A Mother's Touch

Once she warmed thick, thirsty towels

In the microwave

Just to hear the delighted gratitude

Of bubble-bathed toddler-grins

Now she runs her hands over taffeta,

Chiffon and linen

Wedding plans

Once she lingered long

Cradling new-born feet in her hands

Wondering

Where life would take them

Now she trips over shoes

Left on the mat inside the door

During their pit-stops

Once she faced forward

Touching with trepidation

Words like teenager and driver’s license

Now she looks back

Wondering at the haste

Of founded fears

And moment-spun years

Once she held their soft, untrained hands

Overcome with awe

At the potential in them

Beneath patient instruction and teaching

Now she looks down at her own

Realizing that in the reaching and releasing

They were teaching her

© Janet Martin