the world doesn’t end
by charles simic
My mother was a braid of black smoke.
She bore me swaddled over the burning cities.
The sky was a vast and windy place for a child
to play.
We met many others who were just like us.
They were trying to put on their overcoats with
arms made of smoke.
The high heavens were full of little shrunken
deaf ears instead of stars.
copyright 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985
by Charles Simic
printed with permission of the author
the world doesn’t end
by charles simic
My mother was a braid of black smoke.
She bore me swaddled over the burning cities.
The sky was a vast and windy place for a child
to play.
We met many others who were just like us.
They were trying to put on their overcoats with
arms made of smoke.
The high heavens were full of little shrunken
deaf ears instead of stars.
copyright 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985
by Charles Simic
printed with permission of the author