Within My Sight

They say eyes are the
windows of the soul
and for me it's fitting
since I have two

I've shared its
luminous spark
twice with my sons

Shared my breath
until they were
strong enough
to do it on their own
months later
in the middle of the night

Where the fear
was so bright I
couldn't open my eyes
until the first sound
of blood and cut
umbilical cords

And since then
they are always
Within My Sight

My oldest
so like his mother
the constant dreamer
using my top eyelashes
as a hammock

Arms folded behind his
head, facing the clouds
talking to me about music
in the early dark hours
of the morning

My eyelids so heavy
but determined to stay awake
to encourage and lift
his spirits with every blink

Until the day comes
where he floats off
towards his dreams

My youngest darts
across my sight
as if playing monkey
bars with my eyelashes

Back and forth
over and over
was like that even
before he was born
never a still moment
inside my womb

Exactly like that in life
my physical child
prepared with strength
as I watch, steady
without blinking

In case he decides
to jump
out of my sight
ready to conquer
the reality of
this world

So unlike
his older brother
and yet similar
both inheriting a sliver
of my ageless soul

They say the eyes
are the window
into the soul
Each blink slowly
opens the glass pane

And as their mother
I bravely raise them
and learn to let go