Stages 2

A tan-renga collaboration by Amelia Fielden and Michael Dylan Welch. Written 18 July 2011 on the ferry from Sidney, British Columbia to Anacortes, Washington. First published in Red Lights 8:2, June 2012, page 36. Also published in Amelia Fielden’s Conversations in Tanka, Port Adelaide, Australia: Ginninderra Press, 2014, page 113. See “Four Tan-Renga Sets” for additional tan-renga in this series.

fed and changed

still that harsh crying—

what can she want? Amelia

the suckling shape

in her tiny mouth Michael

when I grow up

I’ll be a journalist

for sure Amelia

my prom date tells me

I was her second choice Michael

one touch

and that china squirrel

smashes on the tiles Amelia

forgetting

our anniversary Michael

a daughter’s house

or a nursing home . . .

and the dog? Amelia

clipping the advert

for dignified cremation Michael