Dove

She talks to me, you know,
quietly, calmly, simply -
she loves you so.
She was so worried about you,
just a week or two ago.
She's calmer now.

She remembers when you hurt your knee
and you ran to her (a blur
of rushing legs, the sun all silver in your flying
hair), and
she put you on her knee
to comfort you ...
and then sat you opposite
and removed the grit,
and you winced,
and she put on the ointment
and a little plaster,
and you started talking again
and told her how much you loved her.

She talks to me, you know,
calmly, quietly, not stressed,
not now - it was just,
just that she loves you so.

She thanks you so,
for being brave and kind and honest,
gentle to the old guy, the silent
old guy;
she says she's always there,
just behind or to one side -
she says you're not alone;
you're deeply loved,
Loved by so many.