Unconditional love

In the mornings
I lie beside my children
And feel such waves of love wash over me
I love them
Yet know
I cannot expect them to love me back

Like baby birds now
They need me
For food water shelter
To learn how to fly and build a new world

It is my duty
to care for them, teach them, protect them
Love-
That's a bonus
That I love them and love them so much
And that they love me is a gift to treasure
They need not, and may not later on
That is the unconditional love I need to show them
To love them and not expect to be loved in return