i.

one helpless, one permissive
I made quickly
equal cuts

in the newborn-

     deep that they’d honor

my witness.

ii.

to pre-empt déjà vu
I tailored the newborn’s gown

to the debt of its body
with such fabric
I could not afford.

iii.

that it could sound check
the echo

     I named it child.

iv.

     renamed it whistle

for how the wind
picks up
forgetting.