At the feet of a child
for Emma —– ——— (b. 1995)
The earth is young again tonight
And innocent of dinosaurs
Of war and famine; and small,
Cauled underneath a child:
Seven months, Emma rocks
On all small fours and belly
Rocks back and forth
Until her feet find traction
And, gurgling, she launches
Into her first crawl, sets us
And the earth in motion
(from This Carting Life, © Kwela/Snailpress, 2005)
