Gabriel Fried

PARENTING TRIOLET

The little god has grown, a little god
no longer. Will he answer our prayers
now that he’s lifted from our fog
a little? God, he’s grown. A little god,
a little storm. A wolf among the dogs.
Something we hunt or run from—up the stairs.
The little god has grown, alit, dislodged.
No longer will he answer our prayers.

GABRIEL FRIED is the author of two collections of poetry, The Children Are Reading (Four Way, 2017) and Making the New Lamb Take (Four Way, 2007). He edits poetry for Persea Books and directs the creative writing program at the University of Missouri.