名人诗歌|Seize

Seize

Brian Komei Dempster

Blue flame

in the eyes corner,

stove on

high, we brace¹

for his flint

and spark, our dark

surprise, his smile

jolts^{2, head}

unleashed^{3, little body}

arched, straining

in the high

chair, we stand

to face

anything, she steadies

his tray, eggs bubble

in the pot, I lunge

for his spoon, his purple

elephant, water boils

over sides, we look

to each other, sense

the sizzle, his bowl

clattering^{4, a reverse}

crater^{5, we shake off}

faults, shells

crack, window

shut, we smell

the heat, hardened

yolks, his brains singed⁶

gray, the scorched⁷

black dome^8,

we are all

hollowed out.