All is forgotten

He is ten months old
she is older
but short.
He touches her face
tenderly at first
then as though
it is a ball
and it occurs to him
to throw it.
She cries
he stares
she forgives him
they bond
over a mutual fascination
with a water bottle.
He touches her face again
temporarily
devoted.
She lets him
all is forgotten
and I wonder
at the blunt wisdom
of the young
before the echo
of inhibition
starts ringing
in our ears.