grandfather holds the child
to his chest hoping
that both could get
a bit of a snore,
but boy swings his head
from side to side,
fidgeting feet and hands.
so grandfather begins to sing
deep tones so off-tune
he worries of forever damaging
the child’s sense of pitch.
the vocal vibrations
begin to calm baby
so he continues to sing and hum
lullabies and silly songs
like row, row, row your boat
which has to
slow down to a
very
slow
boat
he is rowing
while gently patting
the baby’s bottom
until squirming ceases,
the man feeling
steady breaths on his
wrinkled neck, looking down,
sleeping face,
wonder in repose, and
that moment passes.
