Beverly
by Henry Burt Stevens
1/20/2004

 "Beverly bottle feeds her 9-day-old great-grandson
 in a public place while I approach
 to chat and look".

She shows me his long fingers
"A pianist," I say,
"That's what his great-grandfather says."

I wonder if the baby heard
and learned music while he was
still aboard his water vessal?

Perhaps his mother played
music on the radio
or a cable TV music channel?

Was his very uncluttered
developing mind picking up
on musical sounds?

Now docked in outer space
to seek air and water on his own,
the music is closer and louder

clearer too, for his ears and mind
to process what he hears
and plan his own response.

For now, he's a baby busy being
baby with long fingers
and a long future.
.