the birth [2011]

a parcel (twined in gut/trembling)

arrived (of the U.S. mail/sweat-soaked)

at my door (off the hinges/kicked-in)     

              the birds (chirping/striking wicked postures) 

              gathered around (violent hunger/pecking) 

              in curiosity (eyes bleeding/darting)

       my Scoochie (a primary character/herself once a parcel) 

       who feared the post (unlike being peppered/stroked) 

       pointed out (from Baby Blue/speeding by) 

       that the package (a special delivery/carboard entity)

       was alive (stamped and spanked/a postage infant)

              the birds (frantic/lusting for blood)

              attacked the twine (carnivorous/knife-beaked)

              dissevering it (an umbilical feast/placental din-din)

                                   I shooed them (satiated/no longer posturing)

                                   with eager hands (striving/reaching for life)

                                   snatching the parcel (now my baby/a responsibility)

                                   from the porch (perhaps a pedestal/shrouded scale)

       I slammed the door (broken behind me/still a barrier)

       and ran down the hall (a hasty decision/awkward) 

       coddling the parcel (an instinct/confusion)

       and panting (deep breathing/a redundancy)

       into the bedroom (crickets/tumbleweeds)

my Scoochie (back from her drive/errands complete)

walked in behind me (not to be undone/a perambulator)

and we watched (without words/in awe)

as eyes developed (deep goggle/a penetration)

below the return address (previously unnoticed/now clear)

              VICKI & LARRY WOOD

              7654 BIRCKLAN DRIVE

              CANTON, MI 48187

                                   the birds reappeared (frantically chirping/observing)

                                   along the windowsill (a soapbox/bully pulpit)

                                   with bloody beaks (time crusted/still sharp)

                                   and a smug confidence (a collective/choir righteous)

       I placed the parcel (eye to eye/a connection)

       onto the bed (an arousal/inviting knowledge)

       and it began to spasm (a bouncing/ breaking free)

                     it shook (seams tearing/a rumble)

                     and then sprouted legs (full-size/clean-shaven)

                     as I looked on (in wonderment/transfixed)

                     and Scoochie gasped (startled/an initial realization)

              suddenly (establishing precedent/a contradiction)

              two arms burst forth (warm and inviting/tiny hands)

              and began reaching for me (an urgency/attraction)

                                   then the eyes (displaying strain/determination)

                                   began to rise (revealing a nose/revealing a mouth)

                                   and before I knew it (I knew nothing/I am anew)

                                   a beautiful head had formed (long blonde hair/alluring smile)

                            with a final push (gargantuan effort/a labor)

                            the box morphed entirely (breasts emerged/a rump)

                            exposing the body (a finish/soft white flesh)

                            of a fully formed (naked sweetness/an affirmation)

                            adult woman (no words/speechless)

                     the birds squawked (ca-caw ca-caw/a joyful noise)

                     and flapped their wings (celebration/a triumph)

                     against the glass (a chorus of chimes/a chamber music)

                     as I stood dumb (taken/arrested)

                     before the prone beauty (truly a gift/like no other)

seizing her opportunity (once in a lifetime/destiny)

Scoochie lept onto the bed (always the acrobat/daredevil)

and dove feet first (a courageous move/leap of faith)

into the neuter crotch (the unknown/a strange accommodation)

of the newborn (though not a child/quite clear)

              she moved around (seeking comfort/a good spot)

              and situated herself (adjusting organs/untangling arteries)

              until all I could see of her (always covert/a sneak)

              was her mouth (lips warm/properly moisturized)

              and she spoke (from between two legs/home): "Bear

I will be a voice for her

(though there will be others)

and we will be your wife

for all time

and 'til the end of the counting

now

smack-a-lack!"

              I did not misunderstand (always a bright one/a scholar)

              and extended a hand (helped her assimilate/dressed her)

              as the birds flew off (plans to make/very attentive)

              and I decided (working the wise/persuaded)

              not to return her (she was mine/a new address)

                            we were married (dogs as bridesmaids/all the birds were there)

                            on the 24th of September (in the backyard/tiki torches burning)

                            by the Postmaster General (cranky old zealot/bossy)

                            and despite some setbacks (dirty birds/the crazy)

                            we are one (and with rabbits/still one)

this is dedicated (a sincere appreciation/a tear in my eye)

to Scoochie (my love/my all-star)

for knowing (in infinite wisdom/super smart, talented, cool, pretty, etc.)

what needed to be done (a difficult task/I am not easy)

and when to do it ("now do it!"/"pet it!")

                                   THE END

                                   (...of the county)