Breastmilk and two sugars
You are young
You see life in small segments
You feel there’s no other recourse for you
You birth me
Endanger me
We cuddle and kiss
We say goodnight
You believe there is justice
Justice above you
You believe in the immutable
Soon to be taught different
You birth me
Enslave me
Did I choose you?
I feel clean, sleepy and warm
Gurgly and fresh
Shy and abandoned
I call for you
Crumbly like toast
Soggy from milk
Mourning oranges and melons
For breakfast
16 January 2008 at 5:12 pm
Distinctly Hughesian ;)
16 January 2008 at 8:17 pm
Extremely well-written poetry, as always.
I like birth/enslave as a verb combo. I believe I said this on Tara Tartly’s site a while back, but it reminds me of the Julia Kristeva quote which used to be a running joke in grad school: “I want to vomit the mother.” Somehow, your piece made me want to vomit my mother. If you knew my mother you’d understand. ;)
16 January 2008 at 8:18 pm
I concur with the first commenter. Though I would also add: eminently Smithian. [Ahem]
17 January 2008 at 10:08 am
Ben: Thank you, Mr Leto. Thank you very much indeed. ;)
Marcelle: Sharp as a tack, Ms Manhattan, sharp as a tack. And while it’s true that I don’t know your mother, I do know mine, don’t I…
AUW: And thank YOU, Mr Witness. I do hope you’ll consider contributing a blurb to my upcoming book? It’s a collection of poems titled, Pigs Fly, Oh Yes They Do.
17 January 2008 at 7:38 pm
Did i choose you? is absolutely perfect.
18 January 2008 at 1:41 am
this is about me, isn’t it?
21 January 2008 at 5:45 pm
Imogen: Choice is important, isn’t it?
Andre: I believe you may have the wrong site. You are thinking of that lovely http://www.unreliablewitness.com/. ;)
22 January 2008 at 7:21 pm
Neat! A poem, in poetic form. Enjoyed!