giraffes

*have 7 bones in their necks just like we do.

*speak to each other in pitches so high that the human ear can’t even begin to hear them.

*have ‘gates’ in their neck arteries

so that a tidal wave of blood doesn’t assault their brains when they lean down.

*are born with their hooves encased in skin balloons

so that they don’t injure their mamas on the way out of the womb.

*make wobbly attempts to stand as newborns

once they achieve this, their mamas knock them over – 3 times

because somewhere inside

they know that wee ones must be able

to easily regain their feet when pursued by predators.

* and

they enjoy blowing

on double pointed knitting needles

that they pretend are large candles on

the even larger styrofoam birthday cakes

or so my three wee ones would tell you and

they have this candid photo to prove it to you…

‘womb’ taken from 139:13 in the psalms.