What a Gift!

Voluptuous body filled out

every square inch

of her sweater and jeans.

Red raspberry lipstick

begged for a kiss,

juicy on full luscious lips.

The caramel skinned mama

was decked out as sexy

as prison rules would allow.

She had an easy way

with her curly haired toddler,

laughed and made playful games

of prison inconvenience:

“Hop up here, baby!

“Hold on to Tigger!

“One, two....three!”

She jumped her

from floor to counter top—

the four foot high partition

dividing visitors

from guards.

Her manicured fingers

glittered silver and blue

as she gently screwed backs

from tiny gold hoops

that pierced her daughter's

perfect butter bean ears.

“No hurry, baby.

“You're being so patient.

“There, that does it.

“Whee! Jump back down!”

Milk chocolate skin,

dark chocolate eyes,

delightful gourmet confection

dressed up in rainbow colors,

fancy yellow bow

flared out at the back—

the lively child charmed everyone

with her innocent smile

as she skipped and sang

in her own little world.

Mama stowed miniature earrings

and her own dazzling jewels

in a gray metal locker

with purse, sunglasses, and keys.

When her daughter kissed Tigger

and laid him on top,

I blinked back tears.

And when she slammed the locker door

with a jolting “Clang!”—

everyone laughed,

even the guards.

“Okay, strong girl,

“let's go see Daddy!”

Spread-eagle frisked

and metal detector scanned,

we parted ways

after passing through

two more check-point gates.

 “He's going to be one happy papa!”

I called.

She nodded and smiled,

eyes bright, full of love,

full of confidence and pride

as she carried her beauty

 and her baby

through the caged-in walk

  toward the man inside. 

                                                            Glenda Breeden

                                                                 February  2015