"It"
With rolls of twenty-dollar bills in jacket pockets with their pills,
Funds from the ATM outside the clinic door, because the guide,
Imbedded in the website said “Cash only in advance.” The dread
Concealed — as if I really read the Mademoiselle — my eyes instead
Were staring at the vinyl floor, so clean and cold, a wise decor
In case a mother’s vomit soiled the luster underfoot, and spoiled
This sterile place.
And then, all through the brief and mindless interview
And prep, they called my baby “it.”
I tried to think that what God knit in me was only “it.” I gripped
For dear life every word — a script, to somehow make this life an “it.”
But then, with legs still split in clamps, I lifted up my head,
And saw there on the table, dead, a tiny torso, not an “it,” but “she,”
Destroyed, and with her, me.
Do You Hear The Children
Somewhere safe where they can play.
Somewhere safe from all the dangers, Somewhere safe from Crack and AIDS, Safe from lust and lurking strangers, Safe from war and bombing raids.
Somewhere safe from malnutrition, Safe from daddy's damning voice, Safe from mommy's cool ambition, Safe from deadly goddess, Choice.
Do you hear the children crying? I can hear them every day, Crying, sighing, dying, flying
Somewhere safe where they can play.
Do you see the children meeting? I can see them in the sky, Meeting, seating, eating, greeting
Jesus with the answer why.
Why the milk no longer nourished, Why the water made them sick, Why the crops no longer flourished, Why the belly got so thick.
Why they never knew the reason Friends had vanished out of sight, Why some suffered for a season,
Others never saw the light.
Do you see the children meeting? I can see them in the sky, Meeting, seating, eating, greeting
Jesus with the answer why.
Do you hear the children singing? I can hear them high above, Singing, springing, ringing, bringing
Glory to the God of love.
Glory for the gift of living, Glory for the end of pain, Glory for the gift of giving, Glory for eternal gain.
Glory from the ones forsaken, Glory from the lost and lone, Glory when the infants waken, Orphans on the Father's throne
Do you hear the children singing? I can hear them high above, Singing, springing, ringing, bringing
Glory to the God of love.
Do you see the children coming? I can see them on the clouds, Coming, strumming, drumming, humming Songs with heaven's happy crowds.
Songs with lots of happy clapping, Songs that set the heart on fire, Songs that make your foot start tapping, Songs that make a merry choir.
Songs so loud the mountains tremble, Songs so pure the canyons ring, When the children all assemble Millions, millions, round the King.
Do you see the children coming? I can see them on the clouds, Coming, strumming, drumming, humming Songs with heaven's happy crowds.
Do you see the children waiting? I can see them all aglow Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting,
Who of us will rise and go?
Will we turn and fly to meet them Will we venture something new? I intend to rise and greet them.
Come and go with me, would you?
May You Be Blessed with Peace and Understanding
