He puts socks on his head
and they pass tape back and forth
on their noses
he reads The Hungry Caterpillar
by heart
in a German accent
or they dance
she does a particular number
with accompanying rhyme
as a last resort
it’s mostly for him
the little one
they are jesters in his court
contorting for his pleasure
but it’s for them too
there is a strangeness to it all
the arrival of someone so young
planted in the space
that used to grow conversation
so they nurture the madness
they court it
the message is clear
you don’t scare us
we invited you in.