The careful unpacking of the car
Its safety seat unclipped, unbuckled
Passed gently in to waiting hands
Its cossetted cargo
Wrapped up warmly against any chill
Cocooned in blankets
Tissue-paper protection
For this long-dreamed-of new life
Fragile, precious
The son and heir
The only one
The practised transfer
Into the bumpered baby-buggy
Strapped and buckled
Armoured against a hostile world
Barriered for resilience
Protected against a reality
Of bangs and cuts and scrapes
Or cold and germs
Screened and sheltered
Lest any danger should penetrate
Multi-layered defences
And give the slightest cause
For any concern
Fiercely treasured
Special beyond measure
An antiseptic existence
Preserved in layers of cotton-wool
This first and only child
Kept from all possible harm
And dangers of the world
Loved and feared in equal measure
By his doting parents
Who will do anything
To ensure his survival
Copyright Andy Fawthrop 2013
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