"My Broken Heart" by Elisheva Stein

There are so many things
that break my heart

children walking home from school together
babies putting their hands in their mouths
anybody lucky enough to be a grandparent
cute little sayings, given over by doting mothers

kids who can do anything- like chewing gum or skateboarding,
feed themselves, tie their shoes, do their homework themselves,
blow their own nose, go to the bathroom, turn on a light-I could go on forever

my kids trying to talk, wanting to walk
Not being able to give them so many things-
their health, free of pain, the ability to say Mommy

Going to people's homes that don't look like hospitals
When people don't need to know every accesible building anywhere they go
children who have never had a surgery, been to a specialist
kids who can go to any school they want, without endless battles

The way our family never knows what to say or do around us
How we need them all the time, but can't get mad when they can't help

Looking into my kids eyes, wondering what they're thinking
How much they know, what they dreamt about last night
Their hopes, their fears-I will never know.

No parent should know this pain
My heart is broken, now and forever