you come to me from far away, all those
colored pencils and broken fingernails
and scraps of printer paper and splintered
pieces of playground planks and button eyes
assembled into a figure holding
plastic sword and wooden shield for battle.
you swear fealty to me for nothing,
for just holding you in my arms, and when
i talk of monsters on the horizon
with eyes like gun barrels, you swear on your
life that you will never let them hurt me.
they will tear you to
pieces when you charge
them, i know, but still,
i let you go forth,
my brave knight, and when
you come home to me
all in shards, i will
reassemble you
as best as i can
with super glue and
slow kisses and spooned
cuddles, and i will
do this as many
times as i need to,
and i will know that
your promise is kept,
that they will never
lay their fingers on
me with you out there.