Mavis Howard
Penelope
When they failed to drown me they renamed me Duck.
I was never one for embroidery
and womanly arts. Not in the running
for her, he shrugged, did a deal for me, the cousin.
Poor you they smiled as they fluttered their handkerchiefs,
adjusted their thimbles. It’s barbarous, outlandish,
and I whose fingers had bled over so much gold thread
went gladly off, even with him. He was seasick
They caught him out in his mad act, took
all the able-bodied. We were free. Twenty years
playing in rock pools, letting water trickle
gently through our fingers, forgetting.
But then the babies were men and demanded
causes. There were rumours of returns.
Grandmothers dredged up old conventions, went on
about shuttles and shrouds.
Our son got religion.
Unravel? How was I to weave it in the first place?
My fingers faltered, dripped blood on the wool.
The old trout beat me with the shuttle.
When he arrived I sat on my hands.
After it all he left to plant a paddle
somewhere. He vomited
as the boat pushed off.
My son has taken responsibility
for my welfare. The pools are not safe or suitable
at my age he says. I keep to my room.
He has the key.
Page(s) 33
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