WILD CARD Poem by Anne Vegter

WILD CARD
A light-hearted lullaby this, not much happens
that doesn't already happen somewhere else:

a garnet-red baby distends its tiny jungle mouth.
Recognisable to all who read them lullabies are

about kisses, Venetian blinds and parents/keepers.
Raging in the pillow, waking up like a statue of ash.

A parent is a house. Coochy coochy coo. Food, drink
tra-la-la. A lullaby pries open love,

cheer and light-heartedness. Filter light,
the air is of priceless purity.

Compared to wellbeing I daresay it's cloud-cuckoo land.
Parents/moods/components of the growth machine -

baby's first, baby's own, baby living it up. Cheerful,
light-hearted bellowing in sun drenched nursery. Done.

Hearts plead, hearts steam: Adonai -
give me back my stalemates, my baggy days,

my intact waters.