The woman often wondered what voice the girl
had when she was alone. Of course, it was possible
that the voice only sounded in company, and that
when the girl …

The ultrasound technician probes
the mother’s bulging belly,
wiggles it, trying
to get the fetus to share
the secret between its legs.

But the mother already knows.
She thinks of her …

The hands are not stopped at noon,
are pouring clean water from a green pitcher.
The vacancy in me flashing from the road.
Swimming pool. CABLE TV. Park in back.

Am sea deep and seaweed thick tangled. Am
weighted blanket, hide.   Am hush of woods, not

a needle stirred. Am crack of oak, fallen.
shush of purpled sky under fist …

Today, no song, God, repentance
ringing as words flute up through rafters.

What remains: a bird feeder heavy
with seed, like a soon-to-be

mother swaying. And finches,
cardinals, away from …