handle with care

Mom loves fragile things, 
and has catalogued each
precious detail
of her ceramic angels.
They are smiling at me
from the bookshelf
and offering me something
to celebrate, but I am 

so afraid of what can be
easily broken–I never touched
those antique wings, so ready 
to break against my fingertips, 
but still, I said yes I’ll keep it 
safe forever when you handed me
your heart of glass.