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From section 1, Infancy, of Saltian
Infant, infant
By Alice Shapiro
It is all soft when the hand
strokes an infant’s skin.
When a palm glides along its tepid surface
a blast of innate love is felt
one gets protective at the frailty of
complete dependence
exchanges depths of feeling
at first sight.
Can there be anything closer
than the stare a baby makes
in awe of discovering her mirror face?
A-gaggle at the wet tub water—
splashes, laughter, amazement!
Would that I in later years
could recall such infant scenes
instead of screams and hovering
in closets.
It is given to me
to un-remember
and to glory in the touch
of children.
Critique
By Leah Maines
The poem “Infant, infant” is as strong as a mother’s bond to her child and as intricate as lace. It is graphically and sonically charged. The poet captures the images by choosing exactly the right words. In fact, I wouldn’t change a thing about it. I’d happily accept it as is.
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Leah Maines has served as the senior editor for Finishing Line Press since she took over the press in 2002. She has edited more than 600 poetry collections, including several award-winning titles. She is former Poet-in-Residence of Northern Kentucky University (funded in part by the Kentucky Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities). Maines is the author of 2 poetry books. Her first book was nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the William Carlos Williams Book Award (Poetry Society of America). Looking to the East with Western Eyes, New Women’s Voices Series, No. 1 (Finishing Line Press, 1998) reached #10 in the “Cincinnati/Tri-State Best Sellers List” (Cincinnati Enquirer), and is now in its fourth printing. Her most recent collection, Beyond the River, (KWC Press, 2002, 1st edition) won the Kentucky Writers’ Coalition Poetry Chapbook Competition in 2002. Her poems have appeared in numerous national and international publications including Nebo, Owen Wister Review, Licking River Review, Flyway, and other literary magazines and anthologies. Maines lived in Gifu, Japan where she studied and researched classical Japanese poetry at Gifu University. She also studied at Kings College London, England and The Marino Institute in Dublin, Ireland. Leah lives with her husband and children in Central Kentucky.
