For Lauren Elizabeth, April 1, 2003

While you were leaving your womb,

scooped by warm gloved hands

into this world,

I was trying to lift the toilet lid

which my children had taped down.

While you were rubbed clean,

wrapped in soft blanket,

placed into your mother's waiting arms,

I was in the bathroom saying "very funny,"

listening to the answering giggles of my

monkey children, who knew their duty

this April Fool's morning.

[Copyright 2003, Theresa Jarosz Alberti; do not reproduce without permission]