hold my baby

someone tries to hand you
a baby
at a party.
but you resist.
it's a pink baby
with a frilly white laced
headband around
it's head.
you have a drink in one hand
and don't want
to smudge your white shirt
with baby goo.
there is no need to hold
this baby.
it's not yours.
it could be one of your
nieces or nephew's babies,
but
you're done with babies,
everyone is watching,
judging you to see if you
have baby holding skills.
you politely say no
as they push the baby into
your chest,
trying to give
him to you.
you smile and back away, but
they persist.
finally you take the baby
into your arms
and look into
it's bright sapphire eyes. new
like suddenly born stars.
neither of you have anything
much to say to one
another,
but there you are
holding a baby, staring at
one another with equal
wonder.