Alicia Ostriker




The Moment on Stage II

I have surrendered to life says the old woman
          throwing her week’s shopping into the car
                   I am water over stone I’m an autumn wind
                            easing through broken buildings after war

I heal this wounded world says the tulip stretching her spine
          I order yellow sunlight to cascade down
                   I cause pink worms to cultivate the soil
                            I am so red-hot I seduce the rainfall

Some days my animal mask slips off
          and I begin to howl
                   uninterruptedly
                            says the dog