Peachling (Miracle Birth #13)

                                           based on an Edo-period Japanese tale

This flesh born of fruit
this fruit born of soil & rain & nitrogen

The old man ate nothing 
but peaches

to sweeten his seed 
lay down in the rushes

for the old woman 
to pluck

!

Momotarō, the peach boy 
sprung full-toothed

from the cloven flesh, 
fuzz on his lip

all his life 
never bearded

plunged his fingers 
to the knuckles

in his parents’ mouths 
to give them suck

of the juice
that clung to him




before the flies 
washed his skin

His existence an argument 
for the soul in all things

he took as allies
a bee, a crab, a millstone, 
a chestnut, and cow dung

to the island of the demons 
emerged from its caves

bruised and dirty 
with a fang of gold

According to some tales 
he grew to be a fine lad

others, strong but lazy 
stinking of the sweet rot

of skin split with age 
yielding his wrinkled stone

to the clumped 
brown soil

spreading profligate orchards 
amid the planned forest

Read more from Issue 17.1.