CANDOUR, CAN I?

by L. V. Livingstone

SWELLED UP VEIN IN HAND
AND ALL THE SUDDEN;
YOUR FIRST BIRTHDAY
    SLIPPING THROUGH THE
        WEEK,
GRIN, WHITE STARK GAPLESS GRIN, 
OH, PLEASE, CAN I, CAN I KNOW?
SO I'LL LAY IN THE CREEK WHENEVER
GRASS CROCHET OVER WHERE
    I HAD PLAYED
LAMPLIT SUBURB
PAINS ME AND GREW
READ THE EULOGY 
LEAVE THE LILIES THERE, PLEASE
A DEEP-ROOTED FANTASY
RECONSTRUCTION, PRESENT,
                   IT WILL BE, WOULD BE
                              
CANDOUR, 
                CAN I?