When You First Came Home

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Little sack of potatoes, little Yukon Gold, I carried you with one hand supporting your neck, the other wrapped under you like a sling, elbow to fingertip. You had a language of sighs and hiccups, blinks and eyes following mine. Hello! little kitten, little head of tufts and black spun sugar. I dressed you, my boy doll, in your Levi jacket, your matching denim cap. A game we played. Bounce-bounce-bounce the baby. One, two, peek-a-boo. Did you know I lost twice before you? A game I didn’t even know I was playing. But now Simon says kiss the baby. Simon says carry him gently. Simon says support his wobbly head and never ever let him go.