Her little hands, her spiky hair
I want to remember this forever
the photo you sent me says
I’ve just soothed her to sleep
and as her eyes closed
the immeasurable softness of her hand
slipped from mine
until it slowly fell to her side
for a moment I thought her still
until I realized she was gripping the air
as if searching to squeeze my hand again
in that moment I felt missed
a foreboding precursor that took all my self-restraint
not to wake her with a kiss
firmly planted on her spiky hair