Bigger

The world is too big for us, Mama.
My boys seem to say

The sounds are too loud. It's not that we don't listen. We do.
To everything. All at once. Oh how they hurt our ears.

The grass is too sharp for the soles of our feet.  Some shoes
are too tight, socks too rough. Shirt tags are like
pinpricks on our backs.

People are too loud, move too fast.

People staring at us-- too painful. Please don't force us
to make eye contact.

The world is too big for us, Mama.
My boys seem to say.

Oh, my boys, I'll make everything small 

for both of you

I'll hand you the world in bits and pieces

slowly, gently, softly.

And know this, my boys, your mama's heart

is bigger, greater than this world 

that beleaguers you. 

Know this my boys,

I. 

love.

you.