1.
Is the blessing only for the baby, mostly for the baby, somewhat for the parents, especially for the parents, perhaps for the congregation, in truth for the Church, essentially to remind a Bishop eight years hence, definitely for the baby now, though also for the parents going forward, but just maybe for the congregation right here and now, or for the visiting Catholic in-law who says, “Oh… so it’s a christening?”
2.
The baby bobs in a band of brethren.
Mother embraces grandmother remembering.
The uncle wonders why some cry as others smile.
Muffled poofs of ho-ho and hee-hee ripple out
from members seeing cuteness raised up.
3.
Sleep sweet sister, sleep on sibling.
I wish you neither weeping nor awake.
Let blessings rest upon your stilled dress.
Let no rustling robes of angels spoil this hush.
Poet’s Notes:
For another post in my “Fragments” series, try 2 Fragments from Texas.
Stanza’s 2 and 3 are actually a homework assignment I gave myself after reading a chapter on devices of sound in Mary Oliver’s A Poetry Handbook.
The featured image, utilizing a Photoshop plaster filter, is based on a picture I took of my grandniece being held by her great-grandfather. He blessed her during sacrament meeting on Mother’s Day.
Wheat & Tares 
Each of the blessings I have given my children were mostly for me. I am more likely to remember the words and impressions I get. I remember nothing of blessing my baby. I remember the confirmation blessings of each and they were definitely more useful to me as a parent having a glimpse of the future of each child and thus recognize it is neither to my credit nor my fault as to the outcome; a parent’s influence is, in my case anyway, not all that great in today’s world of cellphones, facebook and twitter.
Baby blessings are for many, although I’m inclined to think they serve primarily to remind the family to raise up the child in LDS righteousness.
I have 4 kids. I only remember one part of one baby blessing that I pronounced. My second child was born with only a half a palm and a partial thumb for her left hand – but because of one of the few “impressions” I’ve received in my life I blessed her that she could do anything she wanted. She’s now an intelligent and beautiful young woman studying to be a physician assistant who’s won awards for playing a modified musical instrument.
I’ve told my daughter this story and she doesn’t care much but it’s a reminder that perhaps there’s something out there bigger than me and that baby blessings can be beautiful and meaningful family events.
Our third child was born after our conversion, so in the blessing I was able to state he was “born in the covenant” of an eternal family.