How to Love a Baby

Happy National Poetry Writing Month! 30 days, 30 poems. Let's get started!

Photo by Christian Fickinger on Unsplash

Step One

Counting his toes is easy

And caching his smiles for winter days

Rocking, rocking, rocking

As he snuggles into dreams

Step Two

Is diapers

Attention to his every comfort

Changing, changing, changing

Repeating once you’re done

Step Three

Asking impossible questions

He won’t answer

As he cries

And rocking, or

Soft words, or diapers

Isn’t the answer

Step Four

All the hours of every day

Gathered in his fist

Clutching your hair

Anchoring him

Step Five

First is waiting

Nine months

Then minutes and days

For giggles,

For crawling, walking, running

Waiting years

For soccer games, his driver’s license,

(The first crash)

First date

His career

(Astronut? Electrician? Painter?)

Wedding bells

The beating heart 

Of his new baby

Prompt: Instructions.