We Plait Straw
for M.V.

i.
children at home, aging
away from them
from daybreak

how could she linger longer
but how long apart
we had been

I deserved six or seven minutes
permitted less than two

but how deep, how far reaching
ache of enjoyment
joy to be alive

moments such as these
to look forward to
to look back on

to revisit and to long for

forth and back forever
head and eyes turning
heart and head turning
towards the joy of life

the joys in life

ii.
girl in my arms
of Haitian origin

salt beef, eddies, yams
pumpkins, plantains

sacks of vegetables, fruit
along with charcoal
arriving upon boats

the meats and sweets
the treats she had in 23 years

all of her in my arm
last evening,
weigh her to carry off
to run away with


© Obediah Michael Smith, 2008
3:35 a.m. 14.03.08