for Lennox
the first one born
& you start thinking
more than before
about death at some
hour. you push on
& the second is born
—the combined
philosophical weight
of first questions
more than doubles:
the first 4.41kg,
the second 4.65kg.
one philosopher
thought it was better
to exist, than not to.
so children should
thank their parents.
another wasn’t so sure.
tonight, after your bath
I watched you playing
with your animals.
you started to knock
each animal over,
pronounced them dead.
the cow, dead.
the sheep, dead.
the horse, dead.
the pig, dead.
the rooster, dead.
the dog, dead.
2 ½ years old, you
couldn’t understand.
but me knowing
that one day you will.
Published in Takahe 73, Winter 2011.
Read by Sam Hunt on Kiwi FM, 31 July, 2009.
