As I hold my baby in a warm embrace,
Gazing at her softening, sleepy face,
I think of this babe with whom I am smitten,
Her open mouth searching like a day-old kitten.

Fledgling baby at my breast,
You're much too young to leave the nest.
Grasping for a snuggling hold,
How can they think that you're too old?

Yes, you're big enough to walk,
But you still speak in baby talk.
And when you're feeling bad or worse,
How can I tell you, you can't nurse?

You need to suck to drift off deep,
Won't take a bottle to go to sleep.
No pacifier we've tried has passed the test,
I guess nothing compares to Mommy's breast.

If I pushed you away, if I told you "No,"
What would that do to your fragile ego?
You look to me when you're feeling needy,
To deny you this would be so greedy!

Why shouldn't I share myself with you?
It is the least that I can do!
Your presence here is a precious gift!
It's a miracle from God that you even exist.

I was blessed giving birth to an angel like you.
Is it any wonder this is what I would do?
I'd nurse you forever if that's what you needed
In disregard to advice I've not heeded.

What makes me laugh is this one simple truth,
Now I'm not trying to be uncouth,
But what if I left you alone in a wood,
Wouldn't they wonder, then, how I could?

"She's just a baby!" they would suddenly insist.
And maybe now they will get the gist.
Every nursing child is a baby at heart!
Mine's not ready to quit and I won't make her start...

So you may think she looks way too big,
Sidling up to the milk bar to take a swig,
But this is my baby lying on my chest
And I'll nurse her as long as she wants the breast.

- author unknown

(Thanks sooo very much, Becky. This is wonderful, I adore it!)