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CELEBRATING CHILD: Two Dances

For Keith Richard
Gary picks up the baby,
hugs him, kisses him,
sits him in the little tub,
splashes water on him.
Baby splashes back.

Gary hums one of his songs
to baby while soaping down smoothest
back and legs, stomach, bald head, chest.
Baby splashes back.

Gary crouches, nestles long hair to baby’s face,
whispers something,
(and breaks into a smile from the hallows
of his deepest realized dream.)
Baby splashes back.

Gary rinses baby, his fingers moving
with the touch of a musician
who listens to the universe
as it sings through his fingers.
Does it tingle?
Is baby’s spine vibrating
From this contact with a place
It is visiting from?
Baby smiles back.

For Whitney Taylor
Baby sits on countertop, I stand;
a bouquet of flowers sit between us.
I look at baby, she looks back,
we sniff separate blossoms,
and we glance at each other.
A million suns smile through her eyes.