the morning after
her writer’s critique session
she concedes
to much

to red strike-outs, interrogations
in search of clarity,
oral deliberations over details, and
to the integrity of the group’s comments.

The light of exposure
darkened and brightened
with surprises in
interpretation and reception -
the usual eye openers
of the nurturing process
and she knows with this newborn
as with all the others
she must move from
you and me against the world.
Not hold on too tight.

The two of them will survive
the briskness of first outing
and unbundling for viewings
after the nursery's privacy.

She self-consoles
some advice from caring onlookers startled,
but some cooed over
the finer features.

The morning after the morning after
she’ll take up her pen again

02/22/2006