Holding the Baby

Holding the Baby

Fresh and clean and newly bathed

Soft soft skin

Little scrunched up eyes and a

Great big yawn.

Sleeping, unconcerned

Cute

Why?

But soft and Can I hold him?

And staring at him

Staring at his face, sleeping

Round smooth little face

Not even acknowledging us around him.

Just looking,

Looking.

Next thing you know the woman

With the four year old says to me

“I want to have another baby.”

She loves her four year old

He’s smart and talented and witty and he’s just the best kid, you know?

He knows all his karate moves for Supertots

And he can play Hot Cross Buns on the piano

“After only one month of lessons”

She’s excited about what he’s learning

She likes to help him,

Likes to be his Main Mom.

And yet ….

Hold that tiny two month old,

Not looking at us,

Just lying there sleeping,

Screwing up his face,

Baby

And it’s “I want another baby”.

But she doesn’t really,

Not really.

March 1995

The baby picture is my littlest from 2006.