A/N: I'm not sure where this came from, but here it is ... Daine's thoughts on motherhood. Inspired by the baby-naming scene in Trickster's Choice.
Disclaimer: Daine and the concept of the shapeshifting baby belong to Tamora Pierce. I just sympathize with their predicament ;).
On Motherhood
A person who can handle a dragon,
A person who can bathe a griffin
Or shoot a Stormwing
At two hundred yards,
Should be able to handle
Her own baby.
Really,
How hard
Could it be?
Well,
This baby
Is obviously determined
To make me
Eat
My words.
If only it would just be
A baby—
A human baby—
For five minutes.
In fact,
A kitten would be nice
Or a wolf pup,
That would be
Familiar,
Easy to handle.
Something without teeth
(Well, not too many teeth)
Would be very, very nice.
Look, baby,
Look in this mirror.
Yes, you,
My little
Bear cub
Hedgehog
Sea lion
Camel
Badger kit
Gosling
Alligator
Sparrowhawk
Mule deer
Mountain kid
Rattlesnake
Beaver kit
Lapwing
Foal,
Take a good look.
All I ask is
That you consider
The idea
Of being
Human.
Oh,
No,
Please not that again.
For Gods' sake,
How does it even know
That such a beast exists?
No.
Look, I've told you
Again and again,
And I really mean it this time:
No quills.
Absolutely
No
Quills.
Mother Goddess,
I would so appreciate it
If you could
Just perhaps
(If you're not too busy)
Convince it
To stay mammal.
Just for a while.
Because it's really very tricky,
Very tricky indeed,
Trying to nurse an octopus.