A Smile Poem by Carolyn Brunelle

An old familiar fear grips;
turns your stomach
grabs at your heart
tosses you across the room
in all manner of horrifying scenarios.
Happens every time
your kids take risks;
climb so high.
But then...
from inside that quiet still place
you have learned so well,
a smile begins to work itself out.
Your shoulders relax,
your breathing changes
your brain gets it;
the light dawns and the cloud lifts
and you somehow know
everything is going to be okay.