Frightened by the storm br he crawls under br br his mother’s skirts br all taffeta & tulle br br clinging to her br ankles br br before falling br asleep br br upon her feet. br br She continues playing br her cards right br br winning all before her br br as the candles br gutter br br and almost br go out. br br She remembers her body br wrapped about him br br her flesh br protecting his innocence br br as now her dress br encloses his sleeping br br unconsciously stroking br his hair br br with her br left foot br br his dreams now br pooled at her feet.