April 2015
Despite being a life-long consumer of poetry, I spent 22 years in manufacturing before my muse awoke and dragged herself out of bed. I sympathize with poor and working people and I advocate for peace and against corporate power. My poetry has appeared in Verse Wisconsin, Blue Collar Review, Stoneboat and a few other publications. My first chapbook, Who Are We Then?, was published in 2013 by Partisan Press. You can find more of my poetry and other great poetry here: http://littleeaglereverse.blogspot.com/
Anthony's Hands
One reaches up to me
when I say: Give me your hand
as we cross a street
or enter a parking lot
and Anthony repeats my words
in his mother's tongue: Dame la mano.
Sometimes we reverse the languages.
On the stairs they both wave grandpa away
and grab the handrail — big boy.
At snack time
they pocket peanuts,
hold out raisins to share,
sign for more milk,
and at story time
they relentlessly grab
for my glasses.
While exploring
they offer up acorns, bottle caps
and other found things for identification.
Clenched tightly,
arms rigid,
they are prelude to a scream.
After the visit
their traced ghosts
wave to me
from the refrigerator.
©2015 Ed Werstein