An Illustrated Life

a sketch book opened —
her mistake: silence struggled
inside the homestead

the noble countess —
once beautiful, now regrets
those lost proposals

she married in haste
after the tradesman’s boasting
— lived a broken life

bright fashion and fame
left her land-locked and forlorn
burning sodden bricks

. . . . .

Poet: Susan Powers Bourne
Source: Maine Women Poets
Process: Pick-mix cento