My Last String

A little poem about my heart strings and how they are played...

Little arms reaching,
"up, mommy, up"
wind their way around
my heart, tugging
until the strings are tight.

Little arms reaching up,
into the cookie jar,
she plants a chocolate-chip
kiss on my cheek,
playing my strings beautifully.

Little arms reaching up
to adjust her ponytail,
she whispers her first-day fear,
straining my strings to breaking
with a single tear.

Little arms reaching up
as she tosses her cap
in the air of a graduate.
Oh, the bitter-sweet
song of these strings
as I watch her drive away.

When it is over, and
His hand reaches down
to take mine,
I hope her little arms
reach up with a final hug,
to play my last string
with love...