Delight

I'm melting.
She caught me by the eyes
crinkled me up
like brown paper
I'm all wrinkled stuff.

That smile undoes everything
that was tied up tight and tense;
that smile unlocks the warm gush
that can heal a heart.

I will not deny her my eyes
and I smile;
this is now
and this hopeless situation
which she knows nothing about;
well
that's mine
for another time.
The delight
which seeps
an expanding puddle of warm-light
towards me,
what did I do?

I caught her eye
and held her
long enough
long enough for fun conspiracies.
Walking away
this three year old calls out
"Man!"
"Man!"
I look up and send her good wishes
without speaking;
she gives her benediction
by waving her rag doll
in my direction.