Monday, April 4, 2011

fever baby {poem}

somehow overnite her mouth was wet.
the slide of milk on thimble.
little squall, wing breathed, a sign
of things to come.

baby how far you have come.
all the way home to your momma.

i hold her in the flat hot.
her thigh fat and tilted nose
toward the heat and the long stem,
the milk yellow bud of the sun.

she nurses like a hairless fox.
a cub in the cave of my arms.
i lick the blush fuzz on top her head,
clean the warm light of her eyes with my tears.

each day brings unbearable joy.
broken like yolk in the fever of your face.

maggie may ethridge
april 4 2011, for Ever Elizabeth
N2 said...

Beautiful poem, Maggie.
x0 N2

Ruth said...

You took my breath with this. I hope fEver baby will be healthy soon.

I can't stop thinking about babies right now. Is it April? Is it spring? Is it that my daughter will be 30 on the 30th?

(Sorry, you don't know me, but I have been loitering since Lorenzo showed me your site a long time ago. Blessings.)

37paddington said...

beautiful, this. unbearable joy indeed.

you bring back such memories.

Therese said...

Joy crept in through the shivers when I read this.

Captain Dumbass said...

A hairless fox, love it.

Ms. Moon said...

For Ever. Forever. This poem is forever your prayer of her at this particular age on this particular day, such perfection.
I love you.
M

aerocline said...

So lovely. "Clean the warm light of her eyes with my tears..." Just beautiful.

Your quote ("WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF ONE WOMAN TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT HER LIFE? THE WORLD WOULD SPLIT OPEN " M.H.) caught my eye, too.

But I believe you've attributed it incorrectly to "M.H."; should it not be "M.R.", Muriel Rukeyser?

http://www2.luthersem.edu/Word&World/EditorialSum2006.asp

January Dawn said...

This poem made my heart ache remembering the first love I felt for my new born babes. Beautiful.

Chelsea Finn said...

This is such a beautiful poem! <3

<3Chelsea Elizabeth
http://www.organizedxxmess.blogspot.com

Still Life With Coffee said...

oh lovely
each day brings unbearable joy...
mmm hmmm

Anonymous said...

Oh, that fierce form of love that takes over when they're sick! You've captured it completely.

Drax said...

Killer ending! Very nice!

"each day brings unbearable joy.
broken like yolk in the fever of your face."

YEAH baby! Whew!

Anonymous said...

perfect words.... this is excellent, i can picture the image... Magic!!!

and yes, Ever will be fine!!

love you!!

Anonymous said...

ending: yolk.
amazing writer you are!!!

Marion said...

Amazing write, Maggie. Thanks for sharing it.

Blessings,
Marion

Caroline said...

This is beautiful, Maggie. And perfect. Just like your little Ever.

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