Sleep Stalker

Sleep Stalker 

Every night I sleep stalk my kid

I've been doing it since he was born.

Before that, of course, I had no choice. I knew exactly what he was doing all the time

 Even hiccuping, which he did a lot

 And still does if he laughs too hard and too long.  

But after he came out, I had to check him.

Is the baby still breathing?

Touch his forehead

Push back his sweaty hair with my fingertips

Brush his cheek with the back of my hand

He snuffles and snorts and shuffles the way he's always done

Kicks off the blankets

Rolls towards me and sighs

The baby is fine.

It's not SIDS this time

Off the hook another night!

I put my hand on his arm

Just to feel its smallness.

I told my kid how I sleep stalk him

I showed him the pictures.

 He didn't care for that, how I posted them on the Internet

One way his face has never changed is when he is sleeping.

So I promised I wouldn't take pictures anymore

(except for the one in the Angry Bird blanket which he said I can post)

And I haven't since then.

But I also promised I'd never stop sleep stalking him.

And I totally still do, every night.