With such a downward stroke
By Simon Perchik

With such a downward stroke
judgments are sealed and the child
bent over this blackboard

will soon finish the numeral 1
stroke the damp fur :the chalk
stretching its neck --on this darkness

the Great Bear will feed forever
edging toward the galaxies
--nothing is wasted, even now

at one end this thin line
the light starts out --from the other
step by step the dead

toward the middle and my hand too
is at home on the night sky
is counting each finger

with a beginner's 1
and in the center a sudden cup
a hollow palm where the dim light

loses its way from one cry
then another
and the emptiness between my hands.

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