EGG SHELL CROONING

LOOKING AT THE FAMOUS PICTURE BOOK,

            that one by Maurice Sendak

Into all that resillience--

where he had all that trouble

on the day that book

fell into me, a library of heat,

outside in my car flipping

pages in sun-flashes, over

what was taking place

with all children,

there, there now,

now that I have this,

God is trusting me

to handle it. Big sister,

wonder horn, and Mom?

here and elsewhere

while father's away.

Golden angel!

Night clothes

in pink and blue,

dream-walking sad

with the ladder,

hooded, snow drifting

in circles into the bell-horn.

Papa was away, too--

where I wished him.

Music closes our eyes

carrying us. Learning

to love all that happens,

we cry, Thief! tearing

at our opening sunlids.

Our mother's clothes

are made of thread

from Grandma's golden

spool. Why call it,

Mistake, falling out

into outside over there?

This given music

for us to bear

crossing hearth

into the hearing place.

Oh the naked little toes!

Heard sea clouds!

Just-babies charmed.

Breathing air bubbles

churning free from foam,

Big sister, Big brother

rising-coral-abalone-shellboat

capable in love's necessities

led by children's child.

Jim Bodeen

29 June 2017