In The Beginning

Furiously wailing, tiny body
naked and red with aggravated
grieving, the newborn expresses
his misgivings on release from
his mother's womb.  In his
father's hands, carefully gathering
the baby to his chest, the
nurse instructing the writhing
infant be placed on the weigh
scale; there its fury redoubles
filling the clinic with poker-hot
air waves of recrimination and
woe.  The young parents' nervous
regard of their offspring ringed
with pride having enriched
the universe with purpose.  It
is the father who gently reaches
for the infant, to enfold tenderly
to himself, the baby quieting,
blindly searching a spout alien
to fathers, his weight of future
promise and fortune, good or
indifferent, time will reveal.