Monday, December 26, 2022

Child's Song

A child falls
then bleeds,
stumbles and bleeds.
She bleeds and bleeds.

What do we do
when we fall?

"Get back up, Papa!"

A thousand cuts
follow her
into adulthood.


 

 


A child farts
then laughs,
belches and laughs.
She laughs and laughs.

Where do you 
feel it?

"In my belly, Papa!"

Laughter is an anecdote
to life's callous
encroachments.

 



 

A child mourns
then cries,
questions and cries.
She cries and cries.

Why the ambulance,
Papa?

"For the neighbor, Buddy."

Death and mourning
usher the cycle
of renewal.



   


 

So play the song
that she may sing,
play it 'til
the fingers bleed.

Strike up the band.
She sings and sings.

"Play it again, Papa!"

A child's song
celebrates
the living thing.

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