Funny—not sure why I remembered
At the doctor’s office
My father when I was three
Coming home from a business trip
Your uncle & I waiting for him in our
Slippers downstairs—The ringing of the key
& that funny squeak when the tall oak door opened
Like a bearded giant wearing a girl’s voice
He threw his scarf onto the black hanger
Silk whistling against metal
& thumped the striped suitcase onto
The marble floor to receive us in his arms
I remember the leather luggage unlatched
Your uncle’s smile holding his new toy
I remember waiting for mine & before
My father realized he’d forgotten
I pretended running to the bathroom for a pee
But really hiding behind my bedroom door
To spare him the embarrassment—That night
I laughed through dinner to hold back the tears
Kissed my father good night more than once
To make sure he knew I loved him anyway
I did such a good job
He never noticed his oversight & did it again
More than once
Funny—not sure why the memory struck when I saw you
Not sure what we were expecting on the monitor
A tiny tadpole or less but there you were
Only a few cells big but so realized already—Facing us
With limbs open to receive us & eyes so clear
Staring right into my own—I tried to laugh
But this time I could not hold back the tears
Of all the surprises I expected & never got
You were the first I got without expecting