For Danny
Who died from SIDS at 5 months of age
Good night small
child,
Asleep at last.
What cruel magic
Tricked you from my arms?
We put you to bed
Resting safe in your daddy’s pine crib.
The moon is broken
The lullabies have died.
Deep in your dreams
You forgot to breathe.
Sweet boy, laughing boy
Where does your laugher hide?
Treachery. All was
treachery.
A mother’s love could not keep you
From the night who stole your breath away.
No redemption
No peace lingers here
The moon has fallen down
We are still here,
Chained to your crib
Touching the soft blankets
Fingering the thick quilts
That kept you from nighttime’s chill.
Crib death
Sudden death
You have left us
Goodbye.
*****End*****
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