18. Winter Milk

THE MILK drops on your chin, Helga,

Must not interfere with the cranberry red of your cheeks

Nor the sky winter blue of your eyes.

Let your mammy keep hands off the chin.

This is a high holy spatter of white on the reds and blues.

Before the bottle was taken away,

Before you so proudly began today

Drinking your milk from the rim of a cup

They did not splash this high holy white on your chin.

There are dreams in your eyes, Helga.

Tall reaches of wind sweep the clear blue.

The winter is young yet, so young.

Only a little cupful of winter has touched your lips.

Drink on … milk with your lips … dreams with your eyes.