Chants Of Infants Poem by John Sensele

‘Congratulations, sir' the maternity ward nurse said
At seventeen thirty almost forty years in my head
‘You're a dad to a bouncy baby daughter
‘On barrenness you've inflicted a slaughter.'

I leapt with joy, raced to set eyes on Elizabeth
I stood transfixed, gazing for the first time at Beth
In my mind, Elizabeth carved an indelible image
Which for years and years from my brain I rummage.

Christine, Elizabeth and I drove home
Home in a long while felt warm
Warmth radiating from our baby
It was no longer a question of maybe.

Nostalgia to these moments drags my mind
Parenting pleads for us to other babies to be kind
In our hundreds of journeys we cosset infants
Who on public buses in our ears charm chants.