Poetry Slam

To the 4lb 15oz baby
who fit between my wrist and my elbow
who I had to wake every 2 and a half hours to feed:

I know you were scared
to stand in front of the room
of 30 capricious 4th graders.

I was petrified
to see my beating heart
in pink t-shirt, flower print corduroy skirt
trembling hands clutching
a magic marker scrawled sheet.

But then you smiled
head to one side
hand on your hip
like me stirring instant pudding
at the stove when I was 3.

Your voice might have shook
on the first line
but everything else said,
"Don't worry, Mom, I got this."