Battles And Lullabies.

Battles And Lullabies

Richard Michelson

University of Illinois Press

1325 South Oak St, Champaign, IL 61820

www.rmichelson.com

0252073037 $18.95 www.uillinois.com

Battles And Lullabies is an eclectic anthology of intuitive poetry from the children's book author Richard Michelson. Readers will be delighted by Michelson's vivid descriptions and situational indications. Where I Sat What I Ate: I sat between/Bubbeh/and Aunt Bet/I Never had a prayer//Bubbeh fingered/her forearm/the five numbers/burnt there/and//that's how I learned/to count/Aunt Bet//told lies about boys/who had loved her/when she was/a young coquette/I sat//like the silence/between train whistles/and dreamt//of the first woman/who taught me to dance/She was so beautiful/I never had a chance//Her skin was/ as smooth as/her silence/I sat//like a boy mid-bath/between curiosity and/my own nakedness/I sat//between Bubbeh/and Aunt Bet/Between spoonfuls of regret/I ate//from this you shouldn't know/and/may you never forget.