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The child
Lets go of his babbyrattle
It falls
Plunk
Into the sunshine
On the floor
By the window
And then the child
Goes limp
Flops down
On his mattress
He cried so loud
He exhausted himself
His cheek is flat against the mattress
He let go
He is
He doesn't
Have anything
To hold onto
He peeks out
From his eye
And sighs.

Irwin R. Shaw - May 25th 1982