for my son
to add another element to the folklore of the poem. Rachel McGuinness, Age 17
Ah, little one of the deep fish-eye,
little dreamer of the night and the day
with "deep fish-eye." Patty Schlutt, age 14
the darkness of what is to follow. Patty
a recurring undertow in this poem: being born, being reborn. Patty
and the night. You stare at this new
world of air, earth, and light,
wonder at the simplest things.
How a green tendril can sprout
from black ground. The deafening
sound a vacuum cleaner makes.
A sound you cannot bear
to hear: terror of the deep wind
is like to a child. Patty
sucking you up into a dark
place that holds no memory.
Legend says the still unborn
can see with closed eyes, possess
that they are more aware of their surroundings than one might think. Rachel
It adds a huge twist to the poem, while the poem yet sticks to the subject. Patty
a look of surprise as they
peer from thin sacs covering
It's kind of a contradiction. When I think of shrouds, I think of funerals,
and veils as being of weddings. Rachel
their shrunken bodies like shrouds
or wedding veils. Ah, little one,
when the vacuum cleaner looms
from its black closet-home
every person's fear of the unknown.
and you cannot blink your eyes,
do you remember the legend?
seeing, being born, and the frightening beast of a vacuum cleaner. Patty
Linda Nemec Foster