Unsung Lullaby

She sang into his ears, epic tales of dragons and kings of treasures and tussles. 
He listened deep.
She rocked him and he rocked along. 
Her hands caressed his brows and head, she whispered endearments of love and warmth.
Soothed, he felt.
He lay safe, as he lay on her lap.

The tears forgotten, the hunger gone and the unknown ache in the heart lifted. 
His hands held her tight. 
Her arms coiled around his like.
His eyes wide open and pupils strained, afraid, weak and tired he didn’t look away still.
Soothed, he felt.
He lay safe, as he lay on her lap.

He looked at him with pain, his sorrow fizzled and ebbed and continued.
The boy lay still. 
His arms wrapped around himself.
Eyes shut tight and throat full of slow hums, on a heap he saw him stowed.
Helpless, he felt. 
He sat next to him, sat there brewing bitterness. 

His sorrow replaced anger every now and then, his eyes swelled up and stopped again. 
The boy whimpered.
He clutched his hand as if someone else’s.
A single word touched his tongue and came out free, ‘Ma’,
Helpless, he felt.
He sat next to him, sat there brewing bitterness.