DES MARIONETTES SUR L’EAU

only these three things can make me cry
images of deaf children hearing for the
first time (the first word: mother) a look
of utter joy most of us cannot remember
a memory of my mother bringing me hot
chocolate and a biscuit she drops the tray
that one makes me cry small families with
no money and those looks in a little one’s
eyes battered and bludgeoned by capital
somehow even these two lovers managed
to hold hands to these i can now add the
fourth trigger unhappy water puppets in
hanoi a laughing boy spits water out of
his mouth though one-dimensional how
could i fail to feel sorry for him and you
my love we have a million reasons to cry
our impending departures weigh heavily
on your eyes just close them how it will
be all right we are together now & i can
hear your baby & her looks of stunned
surprise so that’s what the word for you
sounds like all along there has been no
need to utter single syllables old times
though it’s hard laugh at everyone else
only these five things can make me cry