the baby wants a nest
not a bassinette
she wants to ride the wind
in a tree not a pram
she wants to be wrapped
in air not muslin
she wants the moon
1947 her mother
opens the door
to the plunket nurse
all morning she has worried
whether to serve tea
in the cup with a
painted swallow that is a kite
or the one with winter forest
and no deer
Nurse Beverley suspects
dawdling after bathing
she believes spoiling
has led to irregularity of habits
‘baby will need to be
held out more often’ she writes
and quaffs the tea
and does not notice
the cup is a nest
or the baby in it