1. |
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"A Baby's Smile Is Sweet To See"
A baby's smile is sweet to see
Baby's smile is never evil
Baby kicks like a flower on the sea
She knows not the world's danger or misery
Her touch to you is soft and dear
Her grip as if to a cup so full
Your baby's smile is sweet to see
It throws a glow to your belly
Because she's pure--
Because she's yours--
Because helpless--
Because she stares at you as a focus of trust--
And has also the smile of a witty walrus
You must love this baby tenderly.
Your baby's smile is sweet to see
She is the quickest innocence.
March 1988
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2. |
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The Mother-to-Be Senses Victory
She have a cockeyed smile.
She know her burden-bearing
Be almost done. She feels the head
Cramp down with a pleasure-pain.
The Doctor says,
"Stop work! Stay home! Rest!", but
Sydney washes floors, erects the layette,
Moves furniture, dusts the apartment front to back.
She "gussies up!"
Her rosy shine
Will never be
More the center of life.
A baby--her first!--
To dress in its clothes!--
To (she looks at my mother and me) share.
November 1987
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3. |
'Baby at My Shoulder'
00:33
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4. |
'Indomitable'
01:15
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'Indomitable'
Big girl! Big girl!
Look at her stand up.
Raise her fist--show muscle!
Hear her crow. Hear her roar!
Hours she'll go on
With her stories, songs.
Tiresome? Never.
All her tales are triumph.
What's before her she probes--
Noses, shelves, bears, chairs.
She tries to stand--
Plop--but won't stop.
Books she more than
Chews. Turn the page--
There's company!
Other, lively babies delight her.
Slap!--Slap!--Slap!
The crawlers' hands advance,
Every surface is for crossing,
Climbing, or pounding,
As nine-month-olds
Never cease their conquests.
August 1988
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5. |
"Two-Toothed Buddha"
03:37
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"Two-toothed Buddha"
Two-toothed Buddha stands up everywhere
Two-toothed Buddha shakes her fist in the air
Two-toothed Buddha with 'bout an inch of hair
She's a two-toothed Buddha--two-toothed Buddha
Two-toothed-Buddha! Da-da-da-da-ga-ga!
Crawling all over the room!
Two-toothed Buddha grabs hold of your nose
Two-toothed Buddha pounds on glass doors
Two-toothed Buddha throws toys on the floor
She's a two-toothed Buddha--two-toothed Buddha
Two-toothed-Buddha--Da-da-da-da-ga-ga!
Crawling all over the room!
Two-toothed Buddha gets up every time she drops
Two-toothed Buddha bellows like a machine-shop
Two-toothed Buddha seems like she never stops
She's a two-toothed Buddha--two-toothed Buddha
Two-toothed-Buddha! Da-da-da-da-ga-ga!
Crawling all over the room!
Two-toothed Buddha touches drooling dogs
Two-toothed Buddha reaches out to hug
Two-toothed Buddha sees no reason not to love
She's a two-toothed Buddha--two-toothed Buddha
Two-toothed-Buddha! Da-da-da-da-ga-ga!
Crawling all over the room!
Two-toothed Buddha sometimes sits still
Two-toothed Buddha sometimes gazes deep Two-toothed Buddha has never heard of Hell She's a two-toothed Buddha--two-toothed Buddha
Two-toothed-Buddha! Destroying to create! She's got a lot to tell!
October 1988
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6. |
"What Nobody Tells Me"
03:22
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"What Nobody Tells Me"
I don't want to do what anybody tells me
Don't want to do what anybody tells me
I'm runnin' up this field
With my eyes on bright chances
I'm runnin' up this road
Lookin' for what dances
That I might want to pick up,
That I might want to ponder
Nobody can do it for me
Nobody can do it for me
I don't want to do what anybody tells me ...
I'm climbin' round this yard
With my eyes on challenges
Climbin' up on things
Lookin' for a hand-hold
That I might want to pull up
that I might want to let go
Nobody can't do it for me ...
Don't want to do what anybody tells me ...
Yes, and maybe I'll be
Drivin' through landscapes
Lookin' at heaps of waste
Rollin' over new roads
with a mouth full of distaste
And I might to throw up
and I might want to blow up
Nobody can't do it for me ...
Don't want to do what anybody tells me ... Up ahead may be truths
that 'll need a lot of ruth Maybe find worlds of wealth
can't be got just by myself Prob'ly not just there for me!
Prob'ly not just there for me!

I keep runnin' over fields
with my eyes on bright chances
Rollin' up new roads
lookin' for what dances
Prob'ly not just there for me ...
October 1989
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