The mother picked her baby gently up from the bassinet and nursed her in bed. Baby spat the milk back into the breast. Mother got off the bed and took the dirty diaper from its bin and smothered it onto the baby’s bottom. Water sucked up the drain and filled the tub where the bodies were covered. The sun returned to its usual spot behind gray clouds. The man walked toe-heel, toe-heel down the sidewalk with the newspaper under his arm, turned around, and returned it to the machine that spat back two quarters into his palm. Back home in the kitchen, the tea spout sucked the Earl Gray into it’s belly and the yolks their shells. In bed, the couple rested in each other’s arms, their mouths turned to cotton, their heads too.

Happy Birthday here’s a primrose
Yellow raindrops in the grey light
Mother’s daughter scrubbing the clothes
Skin cracked all winter, no sleep at night

despite cloud changing light
from cell to cell, divide and multiply
plus me, plus him
numbers appear in her fingerprints

So deep in sleep, pink and turned
to the side    peaceful mouth
Say what you saw: salt   honey   sheep
Once upon a time,
the well was pumped to feed the garden
tomatoes   pole beans   carrots
There was a poem down there
at the bottom   which never dries
unless you ask it too
Tonight you have the well of sleep
thirsting through your body, gentle lamb
little lamp     moon beam
Once upon some day
lovingly rearrange the thoughts
that make you b l u e
Deep down     the sound of your own voice
will equal j o y
that belongs    to you
Share what lives at the bottom
and you will never be empty
you’ll find what you need

A much better surprise has come from this wind.
Though, no one slept well (my husband took to the couch like a nest).
I dressed the child in purple and called my job finished.
At least she didn’t weep. She was mysteriously alert.
I met an oboe player today and she described a hopeful new place
where flora and fauna return, along with cherry pie.
We played show and tell with new music. Her about her breakup,
me about the happy apple.