Man Mother - Laurie Reiche

for Paul & his grown son, Devin

This is how the man can be the mother:
heart bravely scrolled wide open like the Torah
at high holidays; blood beating warm toward
the child-man he's raised with the mother.

This is how the man can be the mother:
rosy skin going ghost-white at the thought
of pain tainting his man-child; being soft
as the fertile sea, carrying its tide-blanket
onto shore, carefully covering the cold, hard
sleeping earth with affectionate waves.

And this is how the man can be the mother:
man to man; father to son; face to face
mouth speaking words of love.