These poems focus on the idea of children as our future, taking inspiration from William Blake.

Ring Around

Darkness is my portion with the beating of her heart,

Her muffled voice that sang and cries and wavers in the dark.

I curl around our lifeline, lulled into my rest,

And dream she’s holding onto me, I’m nestled on her chest.

One day I’ll see her smiling and feel her warm, soft skin.

When term comes she will hold me tight and sing to me again.

I do not know what light is, I’ve never seen the sun.

I do not know who Abel is, enclosed inside of Cain.

Her sobs rake through my body, her hunger pangs are mine,

The alcoholic sting slides in and penetrates my mind.

I hear a hum of voices and suck my nimble thumb,

My arms twitch, neck jolts, legs kick. I spit my thumb out.

Something prods beside me, slips around my head.

When light comes to my wide blind eyes, I’m dead.

Rosie

This daughter poured her love out on the world:

The moss, the grass, the flowers, weeds, and flies.

In her delight she skipped and sprang and twirled,

The world was whole and hale in her eyes.

Years later, with her Father through the night,

Enduring pain she could not understand,

She bowed her head and praised Him for His sight,

And trusted all things given by His hand.

At last she came to Heaven’s veiled brink,

Beside her gentle friends who with her saw

The song and cry and shake and slowing blink

Of life near end and long-awaited awe.

Each weary day on earth has weight in gold,

And Rosie’s story’s better left full told.

Aryn Joy Tomasseti is a senior at Hillsdale College.