Holding a Baby

By Douglas Gates

Holding a baby is business risky,

If you don’t cradle his head just right.

Easy when sleeping, less when he’s frisky;

He sleeps through the day and wiggles at night.

A small little guy, and new to the world,

Squirms in my arms but not ready to crawl;

Out of the womb, onto the earth was hurled

Into our hearts, microcosm of all.

Moses the prophet, banks of the Nile,

Beautiful son, descendent of Priests.

Ours in a house, growing all the while,

Lying in the sun, swaddled in sheets.

Moses is born, blessed communication,

Here I sit with the next generation.