you lodged a song where others never

Not to make light of you, flawed & 

majestic. Why not wager on God, as Pascal 

suggested. If right, 

you win enduring life with thems you like, 

Luke, St. Stephen, etc. & if 

you lose lose
    what? 

 

You did make light (enduring life) in some, 

you lodged a song where others never. I read you 

getting my toenails done 

then rest you in my lap. You're wel- 

come. You could report to thems that wonder 

whether I'm a natural red. 

 

I bet, sure. But before infinity's door 

I hedge, I haw. Kind Sot, answer my daughter, five, 

who spies from the car 

the funeral tent in the cemetery: 

Mommy, look—[she taps the glass] 

is it a slumber party? 

 

[Beth Ann Fennelly {1971- } '9', from "Say You Waved: A Dream Song Cycle", in Unmentionables]