The Professionals Circuit Archive - Babe in Arms	 Babe in Arms

 

by Melanie Athene 

 
 I watched you yesterday--
        You didn't know that I was watching.
 I saw you stand there in the park:
        Patient,
        Enduring,
 Wriggling child safe in your sure embrace
 While his pretty, harassed mother
 Ransacked the depths of his blue pram.
        Your head was bowed,
 Unruly curls tickling the infant's stomach:
 His crows of delight and snatching at your hair
 Sending you into fits of helpless laughter.
        It looked so right,
        You were so happy--
 Oh Jesus, Ray, it hurts!
 What has our love denied you?
 Do you regret the choice we made one night?

 I watched you watch me yesterday--
        You didn't know that I was watching.
 I saw you turn and walk away:
        Alone,
        Dejected.
 Kicking inoffensive tufts of fresh, spring grass
 While the misery your face revealed
 Tore the very heart from me.
        Today you stand
 M-16 automatic cradled to your breast:
 Savage warrior, dauntless hero, khaki-garbed child
 Bound to play a deadly game with deadly foes.
        You run such risks--
        If I should lose you--
 Ah, Bodie, don't you know
 You're everything my life requires?
 The only babe in arms I want is you.

 -- THE END --

 *Originally published in *Poems, Prayers & Promises*, Darien Duck &
Phoebe Entwhistle, 1986*

 


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