Letter to a Legend

Dear Sylvia,

This world has changed since you've existed in it. Women are well educated now and may become whatever they please. They only admit persons into an asylum if they are truly insane. Courting is for the religiously devout. People don't care about writing or poetry like you did. Anyone can be a poet. I know you would disagree. Relationships are kept alive from afar with as little human contact as possible. Children learn to grow up the minute their father walks out the door. But, as much as I hate to say things have changed, much has stayed the same. There is still war going on; men bleeding for a hope that we will someday be invulnerable. Money is still the root of all evil, there's just less of it. People still lie, cheat, and steal when they think no one is looking. Iniquities still haunt the human soul like it was the first day and the apple was that red. Would you have made the same decision if you knew the future? I believe you would. It just would have been sooner...

The Fall of Icarus

Icarus
The man passes slowly as the creature ascends
into the air within stones throw
the sweltering planet he sweats and
drips into wax
drops into wash
drinks in the splash
of the water. His legs
lifted for aide
muddled in vain
flailing to save
himself in the midst. Here he's forgot
in the water
alone.

The Bathroom Scene

I remember the porcelain chair... my legs pulled up beneath me, my eyes towards the mirror... I was never so fascinated, wondering when it would be my turn. To choose any color I wanted from the palate, and smear it on my face until my eyes opened up surrounded in black and my cheeks flushed in pink. I watched my mother carefully. Where was she going? Her eyelashes curled, her legs pulled in, nestled in the oval shaped ceramic bowl. Accompanied by her bag of tricks and lighter fluid. Who did she think she would impress? I don't think it was me.