Late night baptism

Sitting by the unconscious farmer's bed
while he slept the deep sleep of healing
a big midwife walked in and asked me
if I knew how to baptize being a protestant
she said a mother had given birth upstairs
but the baby was not going to make it
and she wanted him to receive a blessing
I was all of eighteen years but knew how
we walked into the dimly lite room where
the mother tired and weary from birthing
the baby wrapped in a white blanket did
not cry as I took the water from the bowl
made the sign of the cross on his forehead
in the name of father son and holy ghost
I named him into heaven that night and
left quietly to return to my silent vigil