When the World Was Young
(for Loren and Emily)


1.

When the world was young,
you and I were young.

Then the sky opened up
and a God fell out.

We laughed: no one
ever saw that before.

You kicked him hard to see
if he would breathe. He died.

We watched him
for about ten nights
and then we slept.

And then we left


2.

When the world was young
I found the world on fire
and put her out. My first

mistake. When the world
was eight, I found her in
the pool and gave her mouth

to mouth. When the world
was seventeen I stood
and said: Now this is good.

And when the world was old
enough to marry, I asked her
why: When there is thunder

must we cower: When there
is hunger must we drink: When there
is so much power must we shudder

And she said: Why


3.

When the earth was young
I made you love me

with a word. Then I forgot
the word, and then you died.

Now I am dumb—like when
the earth was young


4.

When the sky was young he kept the flowers fresh
to keep his mind off God. But every Sunday God

would come and say: "This is the Coming of the Lord!
All you who fear my name bow down to me!" The sky

was bored. He hummed: "I wish you'd call me by my name.
It's Venkatesh. I like to keep the flowers fresh."


5.

When the world was young
a mother ate her child, then
ate her man, then ate her horse.

The people in the town knew why
but kept the truth from us. So
she was hung: the world was

very young

6.

When the earth was young the earth
was made of snow and all the snow was

melting. So I lit a match and caused the earth
to drip. The first drop on the moon made clay

then rivers hissed into the sun, which blew
a mist that wrapped around the stars. The skies

were faint then, and the galaxies went soft,
then soft,
then dark

7.

When the earth was young
I had you in my heart.
But you were restless: You

were drawn to all that shivers
so I let you go. You
know the way it went: You

scattered out like someone else's
child: You swarmed like insects
and you crawled and grew.

And then you wanted back: You
pulled and pounded: You
screamed and begged and prayed:

But I was not the One