Alan

Angry or placid, she can never know
the power of her grip. As hard as she tried
to treat gently this child who had fallen
into her arms, even her calmest moves
sufficed to drown his little soul.

As though she were acting out of mercy
and regret, she held him tenderly and,
with the slightest of waves, pushed him
as closely as she knew how, to where
he once belonged.