MOM MINUTE

Sleep calls to me,
and so does my son.

In a minute.

The cup of water and belly — full.
Teeth — flossed and brushed.
Potty — twice for good measure.
Sharky and Moose — each one stuffed
under the arm.
Star Wars fleece — just over the knees.

Stories about saving sea turtles
from plastic litter
and returning sand dollars
to the ocean — told.

What more?

I wait outside the door
for the shuffle of sheets
and breath
to settle.

Clockwork.

Eyelids will shutter,
leaving a backdrop for dreams
of dragons and queens,
tractors, trucks, and trains,
puddles, ponds, and fishing rods.

Just one minute
before it is all
gone.

Photo by Nienke Burgers on Unsplash