Reach Out and Touch

baby girl, baby boy behind me on the bus
reach out
and touch the curly electric of my hair
your fingers dipped in the
brown skin magic of my neck
to see if it comes off
your mama
slapping hands away
hush-up of your questions
and wondering out loud why it doesnt come off.
I turn and smile for you,
but youre already lost
in the silence and the fear that motherlove wraps you in.
I should have sat beside you
snugged up my big warm self up close
held you while your mama juggled parcels.
then you would know its o.k.

~Maxine Tynes

{A poem I came across in me english studies}