This baby circumnavigated a rust-colored rug
pausing to tear free one fray apparent exclusively
at average baby height but after failing many times
matched the stare of a stranger in a rain jacket
and, urgently, this baby began to smile
perhaps because the stranger smiled reflexively
the smile one smiles when observing this baby
as well as other babies, or perhaps because outside
three deer zipped along which caused this baby to think,
arms rising then falling then spinning, Why
right now am I so inundated with delight?—
either way it seems I am getting distracted
because what I wanted to tell you about this baby
was how I left the party early and upon rummaging
my jacket and realizing my car keys were gone
I ran back inside to discover this baby buck naked
using the grooves to engrave the vinyl floor with shapes
never imagined until that moment, the entire universe
continually barreling us toward exhaustion and
it makes sense then: babies suddenly crying, babies
growing into older versions of themselves and crying more.