Galileo’s Children

Twin nebulas, super nova chalk,
We are Galileo’s
children - liquid blackberries swathed in -
Earth skin - subcutaneous -
God - we are our own Eden -
We are those baby doll pupils;
Not sand.
Glass and paper, elemental tags,
Neon creation,
We are
Bubbling sighs.
A nasty configuration of letters - my Greek/Acadian/Slavic child -
You are the Y, its history and angular chin, 26 deaths-
Tell me about the oyster shell,
The gasoline.
And I will tell you about his orchard eyes,
That chemical mouth, those ocean irises.
As we lay down - pulp paper -
He/You/We - the pronouns splattered
Impressionistic -
We are clasped hands - We are.

Jessica McMichael is an English teacher in Houston, and a Pushcart Prize nominee. Her writing credits include poetry and short stories in Slipstream, Miller’s Pond, EOTU, Circle Magazine, Devil’s Blossom and others. After completing a degree in Creative Writing from the University of Houston, she enrolled in an English Master’s program with the University of Saint Thomas.

Email: Jessica McMichael

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