Doris Watts
The Second Wife
For Aunt Mae, 1881-1972
"Things were better with me there," she said.
"At night he liked to find the lights turned on
when he came home. His first wife Edna dead,
the children grown and all moved out of town,
the house had been, you betcha, dark and cold.
And I was there to cook. Or learning to.
Fried chicken Sundays after church. He told
his friends like Edna always made. And stew.
He gave me Edna's box of recipes.
And all the shoes and dresses left behind.
Told me then that Edna would agree
there was a lot of wear still left in these."
Then she laughed. "I guess the dresses were just fine.
Those shoes were really just too big for me."
Sonnet with Purple Pajamas
Now here's an idea for you: What if
you run past me, sprinting around the room,
legs flying all directions, arms out stiff,
and doing some zany dance, a dip and zoom?
I think catch you. Here she comes, running wild
and ditsy after bath. You say catch me.
And I will catch you and dress you, my child,
in purple pajamas with feet. You'll see!
First this leg. (Do you squirm so for your mother?)
And then the next. Please, where is your foot?
Now bend an arm. Now stretch. Now the other.
There. Oh, don't wiggle. Let's zip up the front.
And I'll pull down the sleeves, smooth out the seat,
tug at the feet. Hold you tight. Tug at the feet.
"Snowflakes: Nebraska Child Discovers…."
Omaha World-Herald, January 14, 1943
When Mr. Wilson Bentley of Vermont
had photographed five thousand—plus a few,
experts agreed it was a good amount
to prove no two could be alike. We knew
that they were wrong, for how could Vermont tell
Nebraska children anything of snow?
We had our own and knew it all too well,
wind-stitched across the fields row after row.
And so on certain winter days—the kind
when early snow falls to the ground as lace—
I spent my recess times in hopes I'd find,
on outstretched mittened palms, those rare twin flakes.
And there—apologist of snow—I'd wait,
daydreaming headlines that would praise my faith.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
The most recent addition to The Mezzo Cammin Women Poets Timeline is Etel Adnan by Joyce Wilson.
Save the date: A Celebration of the Timeline reaching 75 essays. Lincoln Center, Fordham University (Sponsored by Fordham's Curran Center) Friday, October 20th, 7 p.m.
|
|
|
|
|
