transplanted southern gent –
passed round the office pictures
of hisself in blackface at a party,
in passing near the elevators
mentioned he enjoyed the (nude
posture) photos of my classmates
at Wellesley (I didn’t go to Wellesley) –
when the good old boy was good
it was probably just a front

correction: he was in charge
of everything except the kitchen
famously her territory – don’t mess up

she was European elegant
proud of her service as an executive secretary
experimented with the women’s group but
experienced too much dissonance to relax there

    some women live as portraits
    within old world frames

my teacher of santosha sleek
white maned Asl-ann inhabiting
the studio offers me a vision
of a way to be
a way to be a
way to be now in
the moment whether asana or
pranayama, sitting, standing, sweating,
lying down, hearing her voice later
in my head, with gratitude

charismatic baby “Dukey” blond curls
birth defects casts prosthestic leg
adopted Boy Scout high school
graduate laid back volunteer fireman
“Doughboy” “Buster” billiards – every
detail of his birth and life
overshadowed by the manner of
his death – murder, gunshot to
the head, Georgetown, Connecticut,
April 1995; next day Oklahoma City

how to gentrify the lake:
build a year-round house
(set back legally of course)
put in a lawn and drainage
for the flower beds retire
talk of starting a business
selling countrified creations resist
going about in boats stay
indoors after dark say
I want to see a moose

he’s gone but I think
his fundamental poison still
lives on flowing in the veins
of generations who now live
to purify the harsh taint
of his beliefs – bow your
head over your meals in
afterlife and say your prayers
for personal forgiveness to enter
the heart of every sparrow

accomplishments abound – career and family,
master gardener, extraordinary quilter, leader
of UU activities, well respected –
first thing she told me
when we met is “we’re
not married” – okay! – but better,
you and the sculptor live
together, a charming life well
lit by sunsets over water
in your well kept home