Is There a Sea

Carrie Buck's guardians took her baby when she was eighteen and committed her to the Virginia State Colony. She was identified as one of the "shiftless, ignorant, and worthless class of anti-social whites." Dr. Bell sterilized her and sent her to a cattle farm, where she was paid five dollars a month.

Yesterday, doctor's orders, be quiet, please    your new family, makeno scene. Today, early, lamp unlit,    slips on a housecoat,

soft as a breath, goes to the kitchen,    stocking-feet. Doesn't stompor bang. Hears wind croon, little    voices in the chimney.

Finds the dishcloth, the lard can,    the self-rising, gets the dough airy,light. Eases outside, smells the wet grass    and mint, will recall these

when she writes her mother. At the henhouse,    gentles the domineckers.Reaches into straw, finds an egg, presses it    to her ear, a clamshell—

is there a sea? At the stove, smacks the egg    on the iron lip,gives it all to the spitting grease.