Mother carries the newborn close
asks her fair straw haired girl;
“Do you want to decorate a cookie?”
Her jimmies bleed all over white frosting,
almost matching her striped zig-zag stockings.
Another adult lady asks;
“Do you have a new baby sister or brother?
How do you like your new brother?”
Remote and quietly she says,
“Good”.
Mother, child and girl slowly move through
quietly examining each gingerbread house
begin stating preferences
recognize familiar family names
oh and ah over those houses.
Again and again
she returns to her two ginger finalists
her choice settled she marks her vote
for the cabin with a bear and a witch in the front yard
and evergreen cookie trees in back.
Palmer
