On “Childhood Cracked”

by Tom Wylie

to Allison Grayhurst,

I really like “Childhood Cracked.” There is something ethereal about it — the words and phrases attract me in a mysterious way.

In particular, the second line “a lucid slumber of inarticulate words like a dew drop on ice.” Whew, the phrase pulls up images and feeling of being verbally locked, having something overwhelmingly important to express yet being frozen, unable to speak.

And, “Into this autumn / the doll fell” brings thoughts of fractured memories from childhood.

The poem gives me a raw chill but not in an uncomfortable way. The images stay with me a while. I enjoyed it greatly.

Tom Wylie