Our Lady of Happy Delivery and Plentiful Milk

for Marian Tompson, former LLL president and founder of AnotherLook

a roomful of baby-swayed mammas
laughs together, everyone blossom-cheeked,
open-mouthed. above them, a myth
hangs darkly, slowly rotating
like Dionysus’ sword for his sycophant. a trifle,
a shadow, they name it as such, will give it
no quarter. when they gather scattered
playthings, bustling to leave, you notice,
to your surprise, in every other diaper bag
glints the happy light of a saber.

Mothers who test HIV positive and choose to breastfeed are at risk of having their babies removed from their custody, regardless of the lack of scientific proof that HIV is transmitted through exclusive breastfeeding or evidence that there is any live virus present in breast milk. AnotherLook is a nonprofit organization dedicated to gathering information, raising critical questions, and stimulating needed research about breastfeeding in the context of HIV/AIDS.

cyclone

when she was fourteen
everyone saw the swirling,
how strands of her hair were lifted
as if by a distant cyclone. this caused
worry. bright, smooth things
like seeds slid down her throat
this will help, smoothing her
back. they tucked her right into
crazy, and crazy looks like
fluorescence (like angels)
alternating with darkness
(like god’s mouth) in a frantic
rhythm. looks like hospital lights
seen from a stretcher. later,
when the seeds took hold, they limbed
and leafed and swum her stuck
in resin. things are tranquil, now.
they did fix her, but she is undeniably
lost to us. her eyes are broken
into anguished stars and she hears
nothing, but she dreams of rushing air
and listens for the roar of her old wind.