So I asked my Hemingway of a husband to write a (short) poem about burp cloths. He didn't hear me say short. So that his words aren't wasted, I thought I'd share them with you :)


burp cloth

each of us has seen it—the sight of a rosy-cheeked new-
born, perhaps a month or two into her unwombed new
life, smiling a dimpled radiant smile as she peeks over
the shoulder of her mother. her skin is cool, and sleek
as an otter’s wet pelt. she can not help but stare. pearl
eyes shimmer and mouth comes unhinged at the familiar
strange creatures reflecting her own delight. they coo,
they click, they, warbling, announce a kind
of peace to her. and beneath her jaw, draped over the supple
maternal shoulder that supports
her, is that soft, four-sided plot
of stitched fabric so ingloriously
named: the burp cloth.

it isn’t only for burps.
the burp cloth is for sneezes,
too, and coughs and toss-ups
and running noses. it’s made for lazy ribbons
of drool that curl over baby chins,
sweetly staining the expensive textiles
we grown-ups wear to feel special.

but even more than its function she loves
it for its meaning. the burp cloth is our pledge
that we will understand
when strained peas or pulped squash returns
from whence it first traveled.
the burp cloth promises we will
not judge her wellspring
of saliva, even when it expresses
religiously from her delicate,
gum-heavy mouth. the burp cloth reassures
we will not hold against
her the salty, syrupy snot that falls,
or whatever else graces
our shoulders, including—especially—
her tears.

the burp cloth says,
we know.
that’s what babies do.

of course any old piece of cloth works famously.
but i can not help smiling proudly
when humans act especially human.
i have to smile when the cloth is something beautiful.
because really, in the end as in the beginning,
should it not be
so?

Labels: Burp Cloths

Burps for Boys

Burps for Girls

To qualify, visit Polkadot Papoose Baby Slings @ www.polkadotpapoose.com, then come back here to tell us about your favorite baby sling style and your burp cloth set choice. To post without a Google account, just click anonymous. Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 2/4/09.

We have our winners! Congrats abookworm and Ann Marie! Please check back for more giveaways soon. I appreciate all your comments. They were so fun to read :)

Labels: Baby Slings, Burp Cloths, Giveaway