A/N: Written for wouldtheywriteasongforyou as the prize for writing the most poems in the March 2014 Poetry Flood Competition at the HPFC. Sorry it's so late, and enjoy!
Crib and Crawl
towards laughter and sound the baby crawled
trailing a trail of giggles and shrieks
of innocent delight
as malice stalked, not far, behind.
pretty little fireworks of red and green
where green is nice and red is strong
but cruel: little accidents, like bleeding shins
after crashing into doors and floors
but when malice comes, it's red that's kind
and green that's cruel but strong.
his crib: strong and just the home he'd come to love
and his mother's form there, cooing gently,
coaxing him to sleep…
but mummy's falling away
and this time
it's not daddy in her place.