INCREASE-DECREASE

A child cries on the train
The mother cradles it
Until it coos calmy
She looks at me
And smiles

He’s only seven months
She says

I awwwww and do that
Coochie coo thing
Weeping with envy
Behind a shaky silly voice

Realizing I
Am now too old to
Be pacified
Too big to be cradled
And too late

For work
To even think about it