Here now <br />I hold you <br /> <br />astonished at <br />your newness. <br /> <br />One hand <br />cups your bum <br /> <br />the other <br />cradles your head <br /> <br />you poop into my palm. <br /> <br />You smile <br />your smile <br /> <br />still unused to it <br />and its magic <br /> <br />wave a tiny lazy hand <br />as if you were royal <br /> <br />& I an adoring <br />subject. <br /> <br />The music of you <br />plays <br /> <br />in my mind <br />as if I were <br /> <br />a mechanical piano <br />notes played by invisible hands. <br /> <br />Your skull <br />has yet to get it together <br /> <br />the fontanelle pulsing <br />as if each thought could be seen <br /> <br />beating like a bird <br />against my hushed fingertips. <br /> <br />Years later <br />my hands so much older now <br /> <br />I cradle your crying <br />stroke your punk goth hair <br /> <br />as you weep <br />over your first 'real' boyfriend <br /> <br />(he obviously a jerk) <br /> <br />your constant wailing: 'Why... <br />... didn't it work! ' <br /> <br />My fingertips <br />caressing where thought once pulsed <br /> <br />your sweet secret self <br />hidden from me now <br /> <br />in your growing up.<br /><br />Dónall Dempsey<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/here-now-i-hold-you-for-scarlett/
