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2005
David Middleton

Newborn lamb

— 1866 —
David Middleton

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Chronological index:

20th century / XXe siècle
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1Translated onto glass from copper plates
As from Rembrandt or Brueghel or their heirs
In whose busy depictions such an act
Is incidental, some side-alley fact,

2Now placed here in the center by Millet --
This all too human scene, both rude and true:
A mother wrinkling up her young son’s gown  
Before he wets himself on backdoor steps

3Where his six-year-old sister, shrinking, stares
At the wobbly colossus, wholly exposed.
His soft hand grips his mother’s muscled wrist,
Still nearer to the milked than milky breast

4That manly hands will master, hard and warm,  
Till old age brings him trembling to a crone   
Who’ll lead to the darkened doorway-stones once more  
This human flesh incontinent with need.

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References

Electronic reference

David Middleton, “Newborn lamb”Revue LISA/LISA e-journal [Online], Writers' corner, Online since 01 January 2005, connection on 18 April 2024. URL: http://journals.openedition.org/lisa/578; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/lisa.578

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About the author

David Middleton

Thibodaux, LA, USA

By this author

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Copyright

CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

The text only may be used under licence CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. All other elements (illustrations, imported files) are “All rights reserved”, unless otherwise stated.

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