The Inch
August 28, 2021An English Major in Vietnam
August 28, 2021To My Second Granddaughter, Unni
I see your face more often now
having more of your pictures
in my screensaver folder.
Your first picture,
just after you popped out,
shows you resting calmly,
gift wrapped in a standard issue
newborn cap — striped pink and blue, gender neutral
some kind nurse had customized the beanie
by adding a bow to celebrate this baby girl
— adding a dash of the fashionable
that reminds me of my mom ( your great-grandmother )
when she was a young woman-about-town.
Or maybe it was mom
who looked like a child late in life
taking a well-deserved rest, a serious nap
before taking on the next task.
When your Dad was a baby child
he was content most of the time
to observe the mise-en-scene
because his older sister was always
looking out for him ( and, she had trained mom and dad ).
She always knew when it was time to eat
and what to do and what to say
so he settled in and enjoyed just being well cared for.
In your dad’s case, he didn’t feel
the need to talk until he was three.
In your case, you might be shy but I heard you cry
and Ida talks to you all the time like momma does.
My bet is, soon, you and I,
your yeh yeh, will be talking IRL
instead of just me writing
this to your picture on my desktop.
Looking forward to that.