Diane Hine - The Chameleon Crawl lyrics

The baby, palms planted, arms straight and stomach grounded, moves with........not a crawl, more of a mudskipper wriggle. Next day, same stance, gingerly brings both knees forward, belly and pelvis now precariously hoisted ten centimetres up; the body plane tracing a slight asymmetrical figure of eight on four unsteady limbs, like a table top with loose pinned legs. Tiny hip and shoulder joints; slippery as beginners on skates. Tender muscles twitching. Brain and nerves fully engaged; sensory input, predictions, transmissions, feedbacks and adjustments, all faster than conscious thought. The newly raised bottom has tilted the angle of his disproportionately large head a few degrees towards the horizontal, suggestive of an imminent forward topple. He slants limbs aft, to compensate. Then, one hand is lifted, replaced, lifted again and precisely placed, just ahead of the other. A cautious knee follows suit; miniscule progression. He surveys his world, swaying back and forth. The baby, just seven months old, is presenting his impression of the chameleon's particular and delicately hesitant gait. This enchanting stage will be fleeting. Presently, he will be demonstrating- the determined wombat's stomp.