I should write
a poem
about harelips.
The first thing
that comes to mind
is that a deep harelip
might be good
for holding
a cigarette
or cigar.
I look it up
online, it said
1 in 700
infants are born
with harelips--
that's a lot
of fucked up
baby faces.
~ Hans Lutenegger (04/24/10)
Hi Hans, I remember my initial reaction to this the very first time I read it after you posted it. For some reason, the last stanza 'hit' me wrong, and I thought it was putting down babies with harelips.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I after rereading it, I see it differently. Really like the way you start--the first stanza--because it gives you 'permission' from a friend of yours to write about a difficult subject.
Next stanza, I like your honesty of stating what came to mind: the image of a cigarette being held in a harelip. And because of that image, I will tell you that that image has gone through MY mind several times since I've read this! A unique lasting image for me.
And now I see your conclusion--the last two stanzas--as being empathetic to any baby born with a harelip.
I really like this poem, and the title is great!
Karyn