The Sleeping Child

…because the clouds crushed upon

The earth and crushed

Upon the sleeping child

she woke up from her sleep

In a fit. And sneezed

Into the sea. And the waves rose

As high as the blue sky

…and because God loved you

so much, he didn’t let you see

the Sea-men as they wept like

women frightened out

of their goose-pimpled skin

…because the waves crushed

Upon their naked chests and

Drummed upon their fluttering

Hearts like kettle-drums, their

Screams were screeched by

The Sea gulls who swooped to

their waiting women

Back at home, trying hard to

Hold back the dirty clouds that

Crushed upon the wasted earth, that

Crushed upon their sleeping babes

And crushed so hard that

Their protests died in

their sore throats