Bald Baby, A Barely Humorous Poem
All Babies Deserve Our Love
Not all babies are created equal. That's a fact of nature. Some are cute, while others are not so adorable. Hopefully, the unattractive ones grow up to be Prince Charming and Princess Beautiful and, at the very least, Joe Average or Plain Jane. In a perfect world, mothers and fathers would be tolerant and understanding of their child's appearance, and not depressed because their baby is not one of the pretty ones.
This is a poem about a rather homely infant and a mother who had a hard time accepting her infant's substandard appearance.
Not all babies are beautiful, but they all deserve our love.
Enjoy "Bald Baby."
Bald Baby, a Poem
A mother cradled a baby in her arms,
and instead of being overjoyed,
she pushed the few strands of his hair forward
until there were nail marks
that skid across the baby’s scalp
like white dividing lines.
Who could blame her?
She wanted his hair to grow as thick
as her neighbor’s front lawn,
and didn’t want her child to resemble her husband
who lost his hair from a bad case of DNA.
She couldn’t stand to see her only child
look like a wizened old man
with a blotchy red pate
and a round, bloated face.
She believed in fairy tales,
that her bald baby
would one day transform
into a giggling, happy newborn
with ringlets of beautiful hair.
She would display her infant proudly,
parading him down their suburban street
and have the church ladies say,
“Oh, isn’t he the most delicious baby
you’ve ever seen?”
Instead, she had to hide
the infant’s barren scalp
behind a white woolen skull cap
and tell everyone in a most convincing way,
“He’s not feeling very well, today.”
Questions & Answers
Comments
AUTHORThank you, Brenda.
Nice work. A little sad she would hide his true identity by covering up his head.
Great write. I could picture this fully.
Well noted, please.
- AUTHOR
Agree with you,Tim. For some people—country, religion, children—are always the best, the right one or the best looking. That ain’t always the case.
Hi, Mark, I smiled when I read this poem because so many people think there ba by is so gorgeous. No, all babies are not created equal as you wisely pointed out. Sad but true poem.
Sincerely,
Tim
- AUTHOR
Thanks for the comment, manatita.
- AUTHOR
Genna, you’re right about bittersweet. Pain mixed with love.
There is a bittersweet beauty in these words that comes from within; this is the true miracle of life.
A little vivid, this one. Somewhat sad. Babies are always cute and innocent.
- AUTHOR
Thank you, Tamara. Much peace.
- AUTHOR
Miebakagh, love goes deeper than beauty.
This is whimsical and sweet ❤️ I am delighted by this poem.
Hi, there, beauty will never make a babe.
- AUTHOR
Which reminds me, Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there this coming Sunday. A baby is precious and sacred no matter what the definition of beauty is.
Hi, Harish, why not? When my first babe comes into the world, it was all joy! So, is the second, the third and up to the sixth. They are not the same we and others loved them. Babes are a joy. Thanks, and enjoy the week.
- AUTHOR
Thank you, Harish.
Not all babies are alike , but they are all adored by their mother. A great reminder.
- AUTHOR
Dana, that’s a sad commentary on our society that people believe that your life will be easier if you are pretty or handsome. Very shallow, indeed.
I knew people who mated with individuals all for the sake of, "pretty babies." I blame society. If you ask the poor mother or father why are they trying to create, "designer babies," their response is they don't want their child to have a hard life. The better you look, the better
Noted, please.
Yes Sir!
- AUTHOR
Poetikaly, you are so right on with your comment. We should dial back this narrow, society-centric view of what is beautiful and what is not. People literally kill themselves because of being wrongly labeled. We must raise children to be mindful that people have beautiful spirits, personalities, as well as expanding our narrow definition of the idea of beauty and not buy into the media’s skewed viewpoint.
Aww, how sad. C'mon mom, let's NOT teach our newborn that ONLY looks matter. I know...I know how we all tend to gush over the "cute" ones but we really should dial that back...way back.
Every child is Beautiful in their own way and we must stop proping babies/children up according to their physical appearances.
I was "blessed" with one of the "cute" ones that always attracted the sweet ol ladies at the store, who "stalked" us from the bread aisle to the baby aisle so she could "see the baby!"
I must say, it freaked us out! We even had a group of nurses tell me and the ex that we should "make more cuz we done good with that one."
The grass aint always greener....
- AUTHOR
Thank you for tuning in, Miebakagh. Your input is always a pleasure.
I like all the comments. Very useful to learn a variety of babes hair growth.
- AUTHOR
Come to think of it, Shauna, I can only remember seeing one ugly baby as well. The poor kid was pale and had blue veins bulging out of his head. The mother said that nothing was wrong with him, but I could feel her anxiety and concern. Most babies are a joy to look at and, I agree, need not have anything around their heads to obscure their beauty.
Mark, I've really only seen one truly ugly baby in my life. He really did look like a little old man, but wasn't old enough to sit up on his own. I wonder how he turned out....
Fortunately, most babies who are born bald eventually grow hair. I think it looks ridiculous when mothers put a bow/headband on their bald baby girls' head. Poor 'lil urchin!
- AUTHOR
You’re right, John. Nature has a way of evening things out.
Awww poor baby. You are right, not all babies are created equal but the plainer ones do generally grow up to be better-looking adults and vice versa. My babies were always perfect however lol....and still are as adults haha. Good one Mark.
Hi, Mark, not at all, please.
- AUTHOR
It’s my pleasure, Miebakagh. Much peace.
Hi, Mark, thanks for weighing in, and enjoy the day.
- AUTHOR
Certainly true, Miebakagh, baldness for men is a sign of virility and in many cases, makes them even more handsome.
What then do the hair defined? In reality, it defines beauty. Baldness also defined beauty. Have you wondered why some models and celebrate persons, and ordinary guys are going bald? It makes them stands out among the crowd. Do not take me at my words. Do your research and thank you.
- AUTHOR
Thank you for sharing a little bit of your childhood, Lindsey. Our hair doesn’t define us and certainly doesn’t define how beautiful we are.
Very nice poem! I was completely bald when I was born and didn't grow any hair until I was about 2 years old. My mom used to cover my head with bonnets no matter the weather to hide my baldness.
- AUTHOR
Hair is certainly not a sign that all is well, Miebakagh. Virtue runs deeper than the scalp.
- AUTHOR
Thanks, Verlie. Or at least a beard.
Interesting and real to life. Some babes have not a string of hair on the head. Bald as a television screen, but they grow up years crown the head with an abundance of finely knitted hair.
All parents should welcome babes as they are. Some babes born completely bald become very useful to the community and nation. Hair is not a sign that all is well. Thanks for sharing.
Funny, and sweetly penned Mark. Your reading brings the poem to life, fantastic job too with the film making. I hope that baby grows some hair!
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