~ENT 

ing is. 

;hing out of her unwrapped insides. 

·e 

wwing the hurt of a broken bone 
either do they care; 
womb. 

Lre flagrant reminders of your alien-

ec pnnce 
the singing of sparrows 
: guavas from the tree 

11ally shining sun. 

t want you, 

5ht. 

;h. 

amiliar to this feeling. 

: sun 's rays 

:s 
1 a foreign tongue 

3 

RYAN SMITH 
LUSK AT THF LAKE 

For his fifth birthday Lusk was 
given a birthday cake, but no candles­
no candles, his father said, 
a hand on his mother 's shoulder, 
no force , but managing to hold her­
no candles . Have you seen 
what hope does to a man? 

Lusk did not understand. 

He had not yet seen Lake Superior, 
grey water, not blue at all, 
a magnanimous periphery 
of shells that held no oceans, 

his father at the center of the 
long rope bridge, eyes wide, 
and Lusk sitting at the far 
end saying 

will you come ifI meet 
you out there, and hold 
your hand? 

The waves coming and coming, 
stealing his answer. 

39