Here in My Arms

Come here, little one. Come and rest in my arms.

There you are. Just the right size. Just the right weight. Just right.

Sway to the left. Sway to the right. Here in my arms, all snug and tight.

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Let me look at you.

Here are your fingers. Five on this hand, five on that hand. So tiny, and so strong, curling round my finger. Hold on, hold on. I’ve got you.

Here are your toes, peeping out of the blanket. Ten little toes, round as peas. Wiggle, wiggle… and still.

Here is your nose, as small as a button. Here are your ears, as soft as petals. And here is your hair, fluffy and new, like a duckling’s.

You smell of milk and warm blankets, and something that’s only you.

Sway to the left. Sway to the right. Here in my arms, all snug and tight.

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Oh! What a yawn. Yaaawn. Such a big yawn for such a small somebody.

Lay your head here, on my chest. Can you hear it?

Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum.

That’s my heart. It’s going slowly now. Slowly, just for you.

And there’s yours, tiny and quick. Pitter-pat, pitter-pat, like a little bird.

Two hearts. One big and one small, beating together, right here.

Sway to the left. Sway to the right. Here in my arms, all snug and tight.

---

Now breathe with me.

In… and out.

My chest goes up, and up you go. My chest goes down, and down you go.

In… and out. Up… and down. Slow… and slow.

Your eyes are getting heavy. Your fingers are letting go. That’s all right. I’m still here. I’m not going anywhere.

Sway to the left. Sway to the right.

Here in my arms.

All snug.

All tight.

Hush now, little one. I’ve got you.

The End