16 February 2008 | Vol. 7, No. 4

Mouth

by ELIZABETH KERLIKOWSKE

Baby or octopus, she knew the world through her mouth.

Everywhere was shore to her pacific Atlantic mouth.

Scallop of the top lip crowned in points, full pout

of the lower lip, teeth even ivories, an aristocratic mouth.

Before alar and DDT and GMO's, she was a red stone