– 26 –

To Finn, before he walks

Days, hours, perhaps mere minutes before
standing firmly, one hand braced, one free
to point or balance or gesture or conduct
your step will come and who will see it?

And after you have stepped and fallen
got up, and decided to step is better
and falling will falter, and on and on
the steps will come and run together

until the years like gates are stepped through
and the days like doors, the weeks
and everything opens, a tread
makes arches, altars, entrances.