You shuffle around the house
in your boots and coat
even eating like that
all bundled up
in your high chair
bits of porridge stuck
to your hood
you bring us your socks
your mittens
your hat
balanced on the top
of your head
or sometimes your dad’s hat
which covers your eyes
and makes us all laugh
we thought you just liked
to dress up
until you began
standing at the door
you want out
you want down
you want to rub your stare
into the tangled earth
making sense and delight of it all
and so this morning
as you bring us your coat again
and we say
as we always do
in a little while, sweet pea
we have to eat first
you must wonder
as we would
if there was a million dollars
sitting outside our door
what could possibly
hold us back.