Volume > Issue > Who Taught You?

Who Taught You?

A POEM

By Lorraine Bochler Eshleman | March 1986

Butterfly, who taught you

Your exotic dance?

Who made your wings melodious?
What makes your spirit chance

That life is meant for sailing,

That days are light and free?

Do you have a “nest egg”
Or only liberty?

Pietà

“Does the darkness cradle thee Than mine arms more tenderly?”

— Willa Cather

To Phoebe*

Phoebe,

Gentle handmaid

Of us all,

Who assisted Paul

And others

Of the early church,

…

Age of Aquarius

(Bitter are the blossoms

Conceived in time’ last spasm)

Myth flames black…