Hurricane Child, A Mam Poem By Marion

                                         Hurricane Audrey

HURRICANE CHILD, A MAM POEM

By Marion

I were born a hurricane child

strong 'n furious, dark 'n wild.

Come here ass first, bloody & gleamin'

not cryin' but laughin'; Mam were screamin'.

Windows imploded, spewin' glass,

wind was howlin', (it wouldn't last).

Rain was peltin' like fallin' knives

cuttin' out ditches & stealin' lives.

My face were masked with a glistenin' caul,

Mam's was faded a peculiar pall

She be a special one, the midwife said---

Shut yore hole, cried Mam from the bed,

Ain't no gift, it's a burdensome curse

a'knowin' most things & havin' no thirst

fer mystery. Havin' the sight can be a fright

and thieve the best years from yore life!

And a'top all this the moon she's full

so my babe here daily will feel her pull.

She'll be called crazy, lunatic, insane

oftener than folks say her given name.

Hurricane Audrey, she blowed outside

a whippin' & a shriekin'---were we safe inside?

The floor were sparklin' with glass & rain

& I were birthed in the Hurricane's pain...