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Poetry: Protection

by Darrell E Phillips

This morning you looked

So fragile

Not like other mornings

Rushing to get us ready for our day

Clothes laid out, lunches packed

Hurry...hurry...don't be late

Our day's foundation, but


This morning you looked

So fragile

So breakable

That even one wrong word

Would pool

Your eyes with tears


I hope I held you long enough

To set your heart

Against the day's tramplings

Like time sets fresh concrete

Against the impressions of the passers by

Some unintentionally

With misplaced steps

And others purposely

With hands and sticks

But all leaving marks...


I hope I was strong enough

For you...

Because this morning you looked

So fragile...


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