To Katharine: at Fourteen Months

To Katharine: At Fourteen Months

All morning, you’ve studied the laws— of spoons, the rules of books, the dynamics of the occasional plate, observed the principles governing objects in motion and objects at rest. To see if it will fall, and if it does, how far, if it will rage like a lost penny or ring like a Chinese gong—because it doesn’t have to—you lean from your chair and hold your cup over the floor. It curves in your hand, it weighs in your palm, it arches like a wave, it is a dipper full of stars, and you’re the wind timing the pull of the moon, you’re the water measuring the distance from which we fall.

Poet: Joelle Biele
Source: @Poetry Foundation
Books: @AbeBooks

All morning, you’ve studied the laws—

Please take a moment to read the guidelines. Use this form to sign up and receive poems. Check out my latest book "Mbera", available at Canopic Publishing and other equally extremely very fine book nooks. This blog uses Buttondown for email subscriptions and updates. By subscribing, you may be sharing data with that service.
See our Privacy Policy for details.

🌱 If you enjoy this blog, consider buying me coffee.