Jessy Randall

MY SON, WHEN HE IS SICK

My son, when he is sick, is a little wet
hot ball candy, sweaty forehead,
damp hair on the nape of his neck,
his eyes screwed shut as if that will help.

His toddling voice repeating "oh dear, oh dear"
when we ask what hurts. He says a quiet
"yes" to everything: Is it your tummy?
Your throat? Your foot? Your hippo?

He slurps the water and then throws up
everywhere, his father and I leaping to catch it,
begging "Throw up on me. Here is my sweater,
my lap, my cupped hands."

Date of Birth:	December 25, 1969
Location:	Colorado Springs, Colorado
Occupation:	Rare Books Librarian
Email:	jessyrandall@yahoo.com
Website:	http://2river.org/chapbooks/jrandall
Publications:	Antietam Review, Blue Moon Review, Ilya's Honey, Mudfish, Painted Bride Quarterly, Pierian Springs, Pif, Sendecki, 2River View, Zuzu's Petals
Book:	Dorothy Surrenders, Slumber Party at the Aquarium (forthcoming from Unicorn Press)

- August 2003 - Three Views of Moonchanc Huadiao Soliloquy Glass Houses how to skin a cat My Son, When He Is Sick Buckets Red Velvet for Four Days: a Husband Section 2: An excerpt from The Last Canyon Focus: The August Stars