some philosophies fuel belief in the self,
constructed to keep one's goods on one's own shelf.
built well, you're a strong letter I,
with your feet on the ground and hands to the sky.
now and then you can bend,
it's okay to lean over my way.
you fear that you can't do it all,
and you're right.
and day takes relief every day
from its work making light from the night.

and when you're holding me
we make a pair of parentheses.
there's plenty of space to encase
whatever weird way my mind goes,
I know I’ll be safe in these arms.

if something in the deli aisle makes you cry
  of course I’ll put my arm around you
and I’ll walk you outside,
through the sliding doors,
why would I mind?

you're not a baby if you feel the world.
all of the babies, they can feel the world. that's why they cry.

-the blow (parentheses)