his mother said he was easy
but you never know
with these little ones
and their lack of control

he’d just gotten a warm meal
and a fresh diaper
wanting only for
a soft place to sleep

so i held him, head nestled
in the crook of my left arm
his heartbeat racing mine
across layers of thin cotton

he yawned a bit
and stretched a lot
and eyed me suspiciously
from beneath heavy lids

i matched his wary gaze
until he, drunk on mother’s milk
succumbed to restful sleep
and left me slightly intoxicated