"brushed as if a glacier"
Joanna Sondheim

brushed as if a glacier,

  , lady’s hand lies slimly,

the meaning of all this nonsense?

                tut tut, but

surprised she found her skirt lifting on its own.

 

 

                ghostie Vera is making lace

for the windows. her tiny needles.

in the library,                    a secret desk drawer.

 

 

 

 

the youngest in the room keeps track of indiscretions.

 

 

 

many animal analogies, one for things smaller than eye level.

 

a house that is nothing more than hallways,

how dreary! a couch is for collapsing,

 

Vera, her handkerchief, from nowhere, to the chest.