Originally published Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 7:03 PM
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'Jill's Toes': a newly discovered poem by Carolyn Kizer
"Jill's Toes," a poem by Carolyn Kizer, was recently discovered by her daughter and son-in-law. It is published for the first time in the spring/summer 2011 issue of Poetry Northwest, the poetry journal Kizer co-founded in 1959.
Note: This poem by Carolyn Kizer was recently discovered by her daughter and son-in-law. It is published for the first time in the spring/summer 2011 issue of Poetry Northwest, the poetry journal Kizer co-founded in 1959.
'Jill's Toes'
When you were born
You had an extra little toe
Nestled against the others
Like a kernel of sweet corn
In a short row.
As would any mother
I adored your little toes.
But the doctor warned
That all your life
You would have to go
In special shoes
At great expense.
So pensively I watched him
Twist off the little toes,
A moment's pain
To make you normal
Like everyone else.
So of course
You grew up to be an artist.
So much for uniformity
That cannot be imposed
The ghosts of those little toes
Printed invisibly
On each work you compose,
Despite the urgency of doctors
Despite the urgency of mothers
And that Procrustean twist
To save the cost of shoes.
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