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Wishing Modestly

One of my co-workers had a baby this past weekend. For the first time since work from home became the mandate, was there re-generating, happy news from someone we work with everyday. The mother did not have a baby shower and there will not be anyone coming around to visit the new parents anytime soon. They are largely on their own from here on out. But everyone is well and the baby is now home and we may see her on Zoom one of these days.

My friend A and I were talking about how birth can come to have larger than life significance at such times. There is collective fatigue reading about the mortality rates, the total number of deaths, new cases and so on. Its no surprise that the arrival of this baby gave us all a shot of happiness that had been missing for while. Nature renews and regenerates and here is proof close to us. 

The feelings that this news of a baby's birth produced, reminded me of a Philip Larkin poem Born Yesterday that I never fully grasped or even properly liked. It seemed defeatist, reticent and as if he were trying not to jinx the little girl he had written this for - by wishing her abundance and greatness that may likely not be achievable. Other have analyzed the poem much better and it seems so apropos for the times that we live in.

In fact, may you be dull —
If that is what a skilled,
Vigilant, flexible,
Unemphasised, enthralled
Catching of happiness is called.

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