The Gift of a Cradle, and: Studying War

• DOI: 10.1353/psg.2007.0149
• Publication Date: 2007-08-26T13:00:19Z
• Authors: Lee Sharkey
• Keywords: Porch; Globe

The Gift of a Cradle, and: Studying War Lee Sharkey (bio) Cradle Lovely beneath the lovely curveof horizon rests baby curve lovelynests in mother's breast sweet stream slipsin sinuous meander curved air playsa celebratory cello wet mouthis shaping love sounds Peach peach was color when I opened my eyespeach through tree trunks pulse whole budof fruit globe peace stubborn as soil and futile lovestood there while train blew to shrapnel Prado dwarves lamp-jawed Infantesthe featherhead Counts were convulsing [End Page 159] Goya disturbed from Truth's grave criedthis is worse this worst all more On Anniversary Invasion on side knees bent hand restinglightly rib cage lightly your touch kneesyour breath washes over face faceour sifts out window rides thermalsover earth's scarred shining brushing distant facesturned slightly wind A Story two old women dug pondto make home for piggybacking frogs cow came drink therewhat profits one belongs bounded neighbor's houndthen shook good news children arrived with spoons pailto dig up worms cast their lines by moonlight lovers stole therebobbed apples waves 160] Tender he grabs baby's feetand hoists legs so otherhe can wash bottom his hands limbshave refined configurations which knows babyby him another time motherheld feet upsadaisy we being born Neither Mother Nor Lover today war dead failed headlinesto keep myself human construct shrine words layer tissue salta little teepee names hometowns ages images grafted broadcast burialsI caption fold tuck inside moment stillness absencefor grief that scours heart spill thread sanda small stone what might have been 161] they're gangly grown but nightthe last poem folded farewells said rather than wake themwe bend heft timemore weight carry step into night standin knee-high grassesthey stir settle our shoulders moon slides past Balm Gilead's lamentin bristling silence galaxy We intended spare you thisIn outrage, flagrancy intent youWhen marched, learned smile spy cameras, honeymooned before Pentagonstood vigil draft board delivered its fluorescent verdictpassed miracle tales physical, failedthrough hunger artistry or heartbeats triplingor belonging naked body sidling doctor's thighit save skins DNA embeddedit affair democracy, ain't gonna no morebut poor kept falling tune rich singing 162] turned aside give birth gardenand gaze upon children's faces saw sadness spread wings shouldersYou said, One day lightning flashed, father scooped us up, threw himself top us,silenced terror palmNow brother has call ownAll boys pray they are immortalthey rinse souls under desert starsTo enter manhood firestorman antelopeto fumble blinded toward rag fleshYou already know aftermaththe...