I rarely wait for something queer to creep into my mind 

a cold white cube 

                  a gleamingwhite antiseptic surface

a naked mewling baby shivering atop it radiant under stark surgical lighting

eccentric blacksilked parents stand at its head place their fingertips on the surfaces edge like a ouijaboard their fingernails are glazed pink their fingers undisturbed unworried by anxious pressure as their baby ratchets into a cry

a white doctor in clinical garb peering over a tautpulled facemask enters on sharp black heels that mar the pearl linoleum

his hair is oiled slick at his temples cloistered beneath a surgical cap

he raps the table at the babes feet to attract the couples attention

Were ready

Shall we commence

the male parent nods solemnly

Excellent

the white doctor sets a draped surgical tray down beside the babe

takes up a syringe from it removes the cloudywhite plastic sheath from over its long silver needle

the eccentrics with a halo of whitelight across their hips do not blink

with one large hand the doctor restrains the babe his fingers splay over its belly and hip his thumb crooked pressed on the table

artfully he slips the needle into the babys femoral artery at the inside of its groin

he descends the plunger contents excreted

the babe tensesstunned but before it can crycatch a breath the syringe slips out

Very Good

a freckle of blood marks the puncture

the doctor blots it with antiseptic gauze applies firm pressure bleeding halts

Very Good  Any questions

the haloed eccentrics shake their heads no

the baby shudders

That is expected

the baby shudders its skin rouges

the white doctor folds his arms across his chest his right thumb quietly thumps his bicep meting out an allotment of seconds

the baby shudderscranes its neckarches spastically emits a bark from deep in its throat

Very Good

the reddened skin deepens to plum the babes nipples harden it urinates a bead at a time as if constricted and relaxed constricted relaxed

the plumcolouring fades a robinegg blue sheen fills

Very Good

the eccentrics nod their affirmation

the baby gasps then utterly relaxes

Exactly so this is exactly what we were expect  Excellent

the baby coos

the eccentrics coo

the doctor nods solemnly to them and retreats

a black nurse enters and wraps the baby in a thin sheetblanket

unbuttoning her bodice with one hand she reveals an ample breast and suckles the babe

in the cradle of light their black and blue are vivid and astonishing

a sharp whitelaced black pear

pressed to a soft whiteribboned blue melon   

2321,  Saturday,  24  11. 12