Sometimes the urge breaks through the surface
And I find myself nuzzling a jaw
Or launching myself in to a warm lap
I’ll wrap myself around you
Put my ear over your heart
Take a deep breath
And remember I’m no longer a little
I’ll pop every single bubble
Of the baby girl who tries to come out
Because I would rather break myself
Then let someone break me again
Sometimes I’ll forget
I’ll squeal and bounce with abandon
Until the weight of the damage
Reminds me to sit still and be strong
When I sleep at night
It’s with my panda
Because I can’t allow myself a daddy
Just to be abandoned again
Sometimes she bubbles up
The baby girl he trampled and left
And I pet her hair and count down
Until she finally falls asleep
Because when she surfaces it’s agony
Knowing I can’t let her out again
Swallowing down my tears
While I keep focused on my destination
Sometimes when you kneel for me
I break from remembering
How it felt to be kept and loved
And have the weight of a hand on my head
When you put your head on my lap
And I pet you
I can almost pretend
Like one day it could be me