your baby hands chubby hands

macaroni covered sticky palms

clap in delight at the television or

some childhood delight.

you scream in joy at Elmo or maybe

daddy’s tickly beard pressed close

to your baby face chubby face

macaroni covered sticky smile.

your baby cheeks teensy cheeks

grin sideways at the camera from

the bathtub where you’re splashing me

your lopsided baby smile teensy cheeks

your tired eyes happy tired eyes

flutter shut as your big sister wraps you

in your footie pajamas warm snuggly pajamas

you long to sleep, to dream.

you sigh gentle baby sighs and

make those little noises I can’t explain

except that they are these little sounds and

they are yours baby yours.

your warm body soft warm body

rises up and down in the dark room

my hand on your chest to make sure

you’re still breathing slowly breathing.

the humming monitor steady humming monitor

keeps me company in the kitchen alone

my arms cold without your warmth

I close my eyes to sleep, to dream.