Childless Man Poem by James McLain

Giving and giving
millions of tadpoles
swimming around my feet
and missing some toes.

Pushing the heart aside
Full and
then filling until the pool.

Is my Opal face in her mirror
I see
But her womb is a sponge
that is never full.

Tied in heavy knots
Stones rattle in the can
made empty.
I am only knotted until
too drink and to eat again.


My body I spend to make a soul
My trees are the end of your result
Your body,
This ivory bust of some ancient Queen
I keep full of molten copper.

When I came in through the door
hearing the cry of a child
But I am to weak to move
wrapped in the center of your web
deceived by the skull of this child.