Bedtime

by D Larissa Peters

Those stiff staccato cries
when a little boy is tired
but refuses to admit it. The parade
for water (in the green cup “with the frogs”)
hugs, apologies, “I didn’t brush my teeth”, request
for favorite books (“the one with Thomas”)
and animals,
“and daddy to kiss me” then

a final
droopy
hug, his nearly full-boy, half-baby body
settling into —
really welcoming
a complete giving
over, all that he’s fought
against those last two hours.