A DAY TO GIVE BABIES AWAY
By Mike Sullivan
(written after dropping my daughter off for her first day of kindergarten)


Today’s a day to give babies away.
Or at least, to some, it feels that way.

Those little fingers wave good-bye
And two pairs of eyes try not to cry.

Those little fingers that clung to you
Now have other things to do.

Those little fingers that curled in slumber
Now grip crayons', like ‘sienna’ and ‘burnt umber.’

And it won’t be long…they’ll have other chores…
Quadratic equations…the Punic Wars.

And after that, maybe even more…
A cure for cancer? An end to war?

Today’s a day to give babies away.
Or at least to some, it feels that way.

Those little fingers have much to do.
But at least for tonight, they’ll come home to you.