AT HOME (A HORROR STORY)
Is the child asleep?
Yes,
the child is asleep.
Sleep, child!
Tonight we’ll have fun,
laugh!
We will sing a lullaby to the child,
we will heat blood
and rub skin warm, too.
Outside there is night
and the large bellies of wild beasts
and saliva dripping
and no silent bodies
or water speaking
nothing
nowhere.
But here, there is fire and lit candles,
we will eat something
drink something,
so sleep, child
sleepsleepsleepsleep.
Tonight we will gather around the child
standing guard, here
so that nothing will disturb us.
Is everyone here?
Let us become bats.
© Maria Haskins, 2015
This poem was included in my Swedish collection of poetry called ‘Honung’ (‘Honey’), published in 1992. It’s been translated by me, and is included in my new book ‘Cuts & Collected Poems 1989 – 2015’.
Maria Haskins 