Lullaby

Today, Swagger begins the October Memoir & Backstory Blog Challenge. A new post every day for 25 days, one for each age from birth to age 25. I start Birth to Age 2 with a poem.

LULLABY
  by Kathy Cannon Wiechman

I lean my head against the plump bosom
And listen to the lilt of the lullaby.
The German words hold no meaning for me,
But their soothing sound comforts like Mommy.
Soothing, comforting, lulling.

I coo my version of the words.
She smiles and calls me “Katalein.”
Not “Kathy,” like Mommy and Daddy say.
Different, yet similar, and said with love.
Cooing, smiling, “Katalein.”

Her chest rises with each breath,
Keeping time with the creak of the rocker,
Her heartbeat adding to the rhythm of the words.
I struggle to stay awake, to hear the song.
Breathing, creaking, beating.

Her fleshy arms enfold me, hold me close.
I snuggle in and suck my thumb.
My body gives in, and my eyes close.
I feel safe and loved.
Listening, sucking, snuggling,
Feeling the woman’s love.
When I learn to talk,
I will call her “Grandma.”