Molars

After I’d had a scant half hour sleep,
Caleb woke me.
Too stuffy to nurse well,
He started to scream in panic.

He peed in the pot, screaming.
He pooped in the pot, screaming.
I dosed him. He screamed.
I held him. He screamed.

I don’t do screaming babies,
So even twenty minutes is a long time.
Long enough that Phil got up to ask
If he was okay. He will be, in the end.

And I stood holding him
As the clock struck one,
He in red shirt, me in green,
Christmas colors without Christmas cheer.

He looked scared.
We both looked tired.
Molars: they have to come in,
But it’s no fun while they do.