"through the crack in the door"
Joanna Sondheim

through the crack in the door

the moor, its wild wind, some

grassy tugboat, moats, the holes wind up

and

 

these ladies vanish in any case, such wealthy skirts,

flyaway tendrils, the gloves and jewels we gathered on the stoop.

 

V. taps her nails on the balcony, or the noise I admire.

 

sometimes music in another wing, that flight, and solitude.

 

spinning, if they’ve fainted, it’s a difficult find,

Vera takes one under her arm, drops a precious vase,

giggles with her lady friend.

 

in another story, lady slamming doors and outside the dry weather

starts small fires on the porch.

                V. naughty, the room is very cold, but a consuming breeze, and our lady

per usual, a heap on the floor.