Diapering at 4:00 A.M.

by Carol Lynn Pearson

I saw a calf born once.

It really was amazing

How soon (all tidied up by tongue)

He wobbled off

And the new mother

Went back to grazing.

But you, my little creature

At the top of the animal kingdom

You would lie in the pasture for months

And wave your fists and cry

So here we are,

You and I

Tied together in all

The bathings and the dryings

They pickings up and the puttings down

And the turnings over

The dressings and the undressings

And the powderings and the feedings

And the cleanings up of the comings out.

I know-

I know what it's all about

This disguised blessing of unavoidable touch

Spinning a thousand threads

That encircle us like little lariats.

And before you know it

We're caught.

Calves come for going.

But not-not my little ones.

The Lord thought it all up

This essential intimacy

And he called it good.

He created the heavens and the earth

And the seas, and the naked, needing

Infants crying to be held.

He thought it all up

This clever stratagem.

And yet-

I'll bet he smiled

When he thought about diapering at 4:00 A.M.