Who is she

Who is she
that she can embody her so well?
Is she trying?
Then what is my role
if John isn’t in the picture?
Or must she pay the price
of that favor,
of that talent,
of that life?

Does questioning make any difference?
After all these years
will Joan reemerge,
or diminish
to leave a new seat?

-G.B.

Amherst

it was a solitary life
glancing out the certain
slant of light
parchment torn, tattered
pen marks scratching,
splattered
hissing on the kettle
whispers of your end
hearing birds at dawn
and a carriage
'round the bend

for yours was a solitary life
your only solace was to write
letters written
letters burned

how much of it returned

-G.B.