Infinite

You learn because you want to, you learn because you can. Of course. Without making any effort and doing all the effort in the world together. A hand that tries to agree with the eye without success and shakes in the void convinced that it is holding everything together without finding anything. Now that you start eating, you learn to roll and flip, pretend to talk, and won't stop smiling. You leave the trail, drooling like snails and announce your arrival with a noisy raspberry. Your favorite game is meeting another puppy in the mirror, fussing all over and smiling at him friendly, without distinguishing your own reflection. Now that you are still alone and only you at the center, how long will it take you to recognize the existence of other little lives without being disturbed by them and learn that they are essential to your own happiness?

Muzzle slamming on the ground, unexpected collision against something whose annoying consistency and inopportune presence you hadn't foreseen. Do you want to try again and slam your muzzle once again? Infinite. Learn when you want, learn when you can. You call for help and consolation as soon as you feel abandoned, not like us who force ourselves to have to do it alone, refusing cuddles even when a small or great kindness comes our way. Do you want baby food? You scream. Can't sleep? Cry inconsolably! Is something disturbing your peace? You squeal until it's out of sight. Do you feel that you have been abandoned? You rage and make everyone's ears pop.

Smile at the life that smiles at you. The tub where you take a bath seems reduced to a tiny puddle where you can still make trouble, while you laugh at the water that splashes all over the house. You look at your hand, you realize that there are also fingers and you stare at them spellbound, raising and lowering them one by one, gradually discovering the pieces you are made of. You like fruit and you eat it all, little explorer always ready for a new adventure, you know unknown lands one object at a time, you grab and grab everything, trying to devour it after the capture. And in the meantime we don't have to do anything. Just defend yourself from the dangers that could disturb your hunting trips, check that the air around you is filled with beautiful words and smiles, calm and peace, attack you for refueling when your stomach and heart are empty.

For you, a roll of scotch tape or a small comb with very soft bristles are a thousand times more fun than the small and large screens that have enchanted and captured us, making us the ugliest of the realm, you look at them bored with distraction just to keep us company. Are we raising you or are you raising us? You learn because you don't know judgement, you don't hear the voice of those who tell you how good you are and how soon you will do everything, you are not yet afraid of the awareness that others may be better than you. Always smile and never sleep. Locked up in your sleeping bag, you look curiously at mum's tired eyes, thinking that tonight will be another party. Want to stay awake? Infinity.


Marco Grossetti
NP December 2022