breach

by Heidi A. Howell

​

as each day passes we must ask

a good question – so today,

i ask:

what law is to be followed now?

of rocks or dogs or entropy?

               as we in our collecting breathing press hard for

               the sake of that moist bloody air – millions of desperate

               unhappinesses, waving between cilia – clenches

 

we notice that dirt varies from location to location

             dust to clay to peat red black brown grey taupe

the beginning and ending is always sand

                                                                      then a teacup

​

i might learn might die or change or break

                             habitual madness of unbending grass

as sky

          skyline

                       skylark

                                    skeleton

                                                    skim skill skein skid

​

so the mother hands the toy to her child and says,

“look, i give it to you.

thank you. now you

give back to me.

thank you.”

 

she holds the child’s face in her hands to show her delight.