Lewisia Andrews

Arden Gifford

Arden Gifford

A friend I had in Lewisia Andrews 
Of all her elegance and temptation 
Backed by blankness. 
Frown lines deeply impacting her face 
Mirroring the folds of her patterned drapes; 
Shadows and highlights 
 
I have never seen her in the finites of time. 
She seems out of her own without 
Comfort in the danger of her past and present. 
I still see her in the kitchen standing in the ill white light 
She's lightly swaying back and forth holding a glistening spoon 
Spacing down into the simmering pot of jam in front of her. 
 
She has the other hand on her hip 
On her uncharacteristic and bright   
And a thin dress hiding her. 
She looks like she should be in the unwelcoming past 
With easy music and a heart in her hand, 
But she's enraptured by faint bubbling on the stove.
 
I wasn't the one to find her  
Or even properly depart from my knowing her. 
She waits for me, and I refuse to visit.  
I sometimes thought she never was in my sight,  
Beside me understandingly cold - 
Lewisia Andrews: the aftermath of a soul.

A Bronco Story. Submissions are from the Western Michigan University community.

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