Wednesday, March 05, 2014

To Edith Wharton Writing Ethan Frome By Ruby Red Firelight At Home (Her First Draft)

dear Edith Wharton
I loved your ruby red pickle dish
in the novella.
I couldn't get it out of my head.

how beautiful it must have

looked on the linoleum
or on the farmhouse pine planked floor
when it shattered-

as if a pirate broke in suddenly, tripped. and

scattered his treasure into every

fresh-mopped corner
before he got around to burying it
in the squash patch

or deep under the lilac palings

where the chickens wouldn't
get to it
after a hard winter.

and who, I ask you,

is going to sweep all this up
after that awful sled accident

mary angela douglas 5 march 2014

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