Young Mind

    NICOLE KURLICH

 

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There was a bang

                          

                             expanding, coalescing

 

and now a little universe

between your ears, rainbow glitter

sticking to everything.

                                     Planets spin

to a warm, milky lullaby

                        (background radiation)

                                                round syllables

that became a part of you, now

the stars are moving

                                    to

                                                distract

                                    you

                                                from everything

important. What’s that?

an aquarium of crushes, sparklers,

fireflies and Christmas lights, roly-poly

bugs and popsicles

with bubblegum eyes –

 

                                                balloons

                                                            like pinheads

                                                in the blue

                                                            as they journey

                                                                                    to the moon –

You, below,

reaching with tiny arms.

 

Already your kind mind is knitting up the cuts

and multicolored bruises. Your scars

will surely shrink

as the universe grows and grows.

                                                            As the galaxies

                                                            outshine.

As the bubbles overflow your bathtub, flood

the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen –

                                                       (clapping, giggling)

finally, your whole house glittering

with love.

 

Keep this part safe in a jar

                                          for the rest of your life.