Steve McCurry’s incredible exhibit has now left Hickory Museum of Art, but so many poets were inspired by the photographs we are able to continue to share works. Scott Owens reads “Mother And Child” at Art of Poetry on March 19, 2016. Photo courtesy of Roger and Ginny Sanford.

Scott Owens
MOTHER AND CHILD
after “Mother and Child Sleeping on their Houseboat” by Steve McCurry

He thought he owned her,
his trick complete,
fruit of envy,
fruit of desire,
temptation inherent in knowledge
and she came to know
the joy of beauty,
joy of sex
and reckless abandon.

The price was great,
forfeiture of legs,
left the lowest of all,
forever to crawl on his belly.
He thought it would be worth it.

But then the child.
How could he know
the power of one so small
to take her back
to all she knew as good,
leaving him
only another to be feared.