My wife says feeding our

Granddaughter (!)

Is a full-body experience.

Sweet potato war paint,

Oatmeal stalactites,

Green beans gurgling through

Sticky splayed fingers feet

Frog-kicking in excitement

Mouth mmmming blowing bubbles

Eyes crossing as the spoon nears.

–

The storm nears.  Again.   

I see-hear the wind bully branches

Shear twigs launch leaves.

Light shatters furiously

Before the louring clouds.

–

I think oh no it’s the third storm

This week.

Power outages floods traffic

What if a tree falls on the new fence?

–

Ella is rapt.

Bottomless blue eyes fixed on the trees –  

Food-smeared ears pricked by the wind –  

Cereal-coated mouth pursed

To contain her awe (but not her oatmeal).

Limbs still.

–

See sees-hears the swaying of the branches,

Sheer wonder at the undulating leaves,

The bouncing boughs, the hopscotching light.   

–

She thinks, I’m sure, it’s just for me

This show, the swirling whooshing

Wind and leaves.  So cool! or whatever

Term of amazement is fashionable

Among six-month olds these days.

–

She has I have so much to learn!