You don't know what love is
It's worry
When my son tics
When he squeezes his eyes shut
And jerks his head
It's concern
When a kid in class
Sends my innocent daughter
A message
Saying Pinocchio has a boner
You don't know what love is
It's being there
When they fret
It's my reassurance
Kind words
Patience
When I am tired
You don't know what love is
It's making a dinner
No one eats
Washing clothes
No one thanks
It's killing a spider
That scares me too
You don't know what love is
It's begging them to brush their teeth
It's telling them to get off devices
It's demanding they go outside
You don't know what love is
It is frustration
despair
and hopelessness
It's sitting in a job
Five days a week
Making money to feed those kids
Who may not eat my meals
You don't know what love is
It's nerve damage
Every time my daughter turns the light switch
on and off, on and off
Six times in the bathroom
You don't know what love is
It's a thank you
It's a whisper of 'I love you'
It's a smile after school
It's a 'mummy, are you okay?'