nessun dorma

lullaby

for cole “…sing me a lullaby. Sing me the alphabet. Sing me a story I haven’t heard yet.”—The Weakerthans sing me your day moments spent away from me colours caught in nets the universe of new words exhalations of playgrounds classrooms full up with the vocabulaire of language sing me an afternoon of hugs wrestling I struggle to trap the growth of your body soon you will slip my grip easily sing me a scat-filled lullaby of kisses let me tell you stories of nonsense before you fall into sleep sing me a song that I can hold onto as you out-grow me sing me a song that I can hold onto as you out grow me emil

popping peek-a-boo faces till you’re empty with laughter this hiccup bounce of emotion can melt away any foul smelling mood indigo you have disarmed rooms made grocery store line-ups crumble with your twinkled-eye stare down you say:

I will look into you until you stop and see me see yourself in me I crack a smile and touch you until you’re warm again you are a reincarnation the next lama next mahatma the next groucho marx I will take you into war zones sit you down wobbling at peace negotiation tables let opposing sides hear the magic of your eyes let your laughter fill the ears of broken men crying out from dreams

folds of night flipping falling teething in the half-grip of the crescent moon you cry out your voice cracking down through the monitor into the cave of this basement the rhythm of your breathing changes when you’re being chased run jump fall I will catch you fish you out in hugs till it’s safe again the night smooth and stationary