“A Poem for Irving Amen’s ‘Girl with Flowers'” by Terry Hall Bodine

Irving Amen, Girl with Flowers, n.d., woodcut on paper. Gift of Dr. Francis R. Whitehouse, 2002. Collection of the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College, founded as Randolph-Macon Woman’s College.

after Irving Amen’s Girl with Flowers

Mama bruises to the touch
like a too-ripe peach.
Fussing like I used to,
she is put to bed.
When Doctor wants to draw
the shade, Mama shakes her head:
Let me watch the children play.

Noisy flowers from Preacher’s wife
start to argue in the kitchen.
Outside the bedroom window
I dig holes in the yard,
one for each stem. See, Mama?
See how their heads
bow to pray?

The sun beats those flowers
till they swoon in the heat.
A sorry rain soaks the dirt.
I pretend with all my might
till Sister drags me to the church.
Underneath this stiff pressed dress
my knees are red with clay.