Baby Understands

by Ed Blair

Out in the shade of the trees in the yard,
In its cool crib is the baby;
Cooing, then kicking its feet fast and hard,
Looking above is the baby.
Ev’rything talks to the sweet baby there—
Old Mister Blue Jay and Robin so fair—
And they look down with a wondering air,
Chirping sweet notes to the baby.
Baby’s blue eyes soon discover them there,
For he is watching, is baby;
Two hands are moving, two feet in the air,
Cooing a welcome is baby.
He understands all the notes that they sing
Of their dear birdlings that nested this spring,

And what a pleasure their raising did bring.”
He understands, does the baby.
Then the wind tosses the branches around,
Just for his pleasure, knows baby,
And far above him a sky world he’s found,
Blue like the eyes of the baby.
Bending above these the sky takes a peep,
Wind whispers softly, “Thy mamma will keep
Baby from harm”—and he’s now fast asleep;
He understands, does the baby.