III. We encounter the history of prayer & hymn: a hard & sometimes brutal tradition of children made criminal by The Book. The history of children burns to death.

                  *

Muslin frocks, petticoats & mittens. Neat black shoes. To wear as much is to bring back night.

*

Morning comes into the parlor singing: Here is a tomorrow, children.

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Morning desires children. Time, accordingly, dresses them quietly & sits in the corner of the room. These frocks make us look like little girls. Your best frock will find you in the garden & say unto you: You become evil thoughts.

*

Mamma tumbles down the stairs. By a candle, I tell you mamma is a wax doll & children are themselves only when they were ill-mannered. I am a door, outside & in.

*

In the house, a big wooden doll opens the door. Children shut the door. Shut the door, shut the boy. Shut the door, shut the fire. Mamma, touch the fire. Someday your hand, mamma, will speak the thought I heard. Hear silent children in a yesterday & eat their whispers. A hand says: Forget your mamma. We shall become water when we die.

*

Die now, don’t die. We get old &, perhaps, never live. Children die young & listen to their hands. Graves dig mamma out of your head, little dolls amuse themselves in the corner of the room.

*

Mamma, frocks eat nothing but your hand. Mamma, the fire is getting dressed to go.

*

Your mamma: a nobody. A rose-colored sash, shoes, & a pearl necklace: fine clothes. Frocks & black shoes: reasons to be ashamed. Your mamma: a nobody.

*

You have a frock to put on. Down the stairs, a fire. A rose-colored sash. Children drink night into day. & a frock does not see fault. Our frocks are not so good.

*

Mamma does not see mamma, so she hears talking without thought. I am mamma, I know children. Yes, mamma, you tell time to take my heart, so I wish to hurt you now. God hates people, & God, as mamma, makes people rose-colored petticoats. God rebels against God, God knows evil. Be like God & sin upon children. Mamma comes into my head, she is a sinful inclination.

*

Children can fall & die. Children find death & kiss God. Wish to be great, die in sin.

*

A Prayer: Wicked child, I know my heart is corrupt & filthy & I must die into a great world. I wish to know this moment. Sin that I may see nothing. To know the world, my heart sins. & I may be numbered among the saints, martyrs, & children. I am worthy of myself. Die for me. Amen.