When just a baby I read my son stories,
changed his cloth diapers and tickled his belly,
We played “this little piggie.”
At bath time we splashed
soapy water.
I swaddled.
I protected,
While playing outside his curiosity discovered
the ants who swarmed and bit him a hundred times more.
I slapped the hordes furiously, shook him like a rag-doll,
crushing invaders to the ground.
I kissed his swollen hands, but could not still his screams,
many days later still curious
he examined his clumsy bandaged hands.
Hugging harder than intended
All I could say was. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there faster”.
(Paul at age one attacked by ants in our backyard on Tuckaway Street, Nassau, Bahamas)
