Welcome, Small One,
I did not know you were imminent.
Mum gave no indication,
no restless, swishy-tailed symptom
and so I missed the actual birth
but not the afterwards –
livid-liquidly flushed out –
nutritious repast.

It would be churlish, to say the least,
not to rejoice in safe delivery,
so welcome, little calf,
born on autumn morning's cusp.