For My Grandson, About To Be Born
Today greenfinch, brambling, siskin
share the feeders
this soft blue Christmas
has the rookery excited
redwings swinging west.
In hospital
they check you round the clock
scan and monitor
your 32 weeks' take
on perpetuity.
They say you'll be early
have prepared us
for complications
procedures
you may or may not need.
They do not know you
like we do.
We hourly send our love
the light of birds
the brightest star.
*
Oh no I said out loud
at all that talk of things not right
oh no I thought all night
and thought again
on waking.
The unswervable assurance
you'll be fine
only came this morning
on the walk by Bury Brook
with those lines about knowing,
so true to life
that two days later
they would place you skin to skin
on Sarah's breast
return to you her voice her heartbeat
and this new thing - love
its branding touch
her first caress
finding you
absolutely perfect.
