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fleaFirst Lesson, by Philip Booth
Lie back, daughter, let your head
be tipped back in the cup of my hand.
Gently, and I will hold you. Spread
your arms wide, lie out on the stream
and look high with the gulls. A dead-
man's-float is face down. You will dive
and swim soon enough where this idewater
ebbs to the sea. Daughter, believe
me, when you tire on the long thrash
to your island, lie up, and survive.
As you float now, where I held you
and let go, remember when fear
cramps your heart what I told you:
lie gently and wide to the light-year
stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.
This poem came in a booklet we received as junk mail from AIG, which I think is an insurance company. Casper pulled it off the desk and got me to read it to her, and after I read this poem she said "again" five times, so I read it six times in a row. I think she likes it. I like it too.
Lie back, daughter, let your head
be tipped back in the cup of my hand.
Gently, and I will hold you. Spread
your arms wide, lie out on the stream
and look high with the gulls. A dead-
man's-float is face down. You will dive
and swim soon enough where this idewater
ebbs to the sea. Daughter, believe
me, when you tire on the long thrash
to your island, lie up, and survive.
As you float now, where I held you
and let go, remember when fear
cramps your heart what I told you:
lie gently and wide to the light-year
stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.
This poem came in a booklet we received as junk mail from AIG, which I think is an insurance company. Casper pulled it off the desk and got me to read it to her, and after I read this poem she said "again" five times, so I read it six times in a row. I think she likes it. I like it too.