"This is the lie I tell. / That I am South of Boston. / That I am the Great Bay, chop and white-cap, / north wind shouldering a tidal heave, / the fire burning in the house by the shore..."
"Mother teaches me life skills / how to baste, embroider / hem and mend so I’ll understand / about silk and serge / satin, linings, padding / and about the necessity of scissors..."
"I wouldn’t mind / being dizzy more often, falling down and into things, / spilling other people’s drinks in fancy restaurants. / I’d like the attention—being asked to leave..."
"If you should ever miss me, take the boat. / If the boat is stalling, jump and fly. / May strong winds float you, levant kids. / I sing for quarters now, into my hat. / Nothing bad I’ve ever done has been without / melody..."
"we have so many words / for the act of sifting one thing / from another / sift, sieve, sort, strain / how many of these words / are gentle and soft / in our mouths / thresh, sever, sunder, winnow..."