Tethered

Curled spine tethered, stiff--
she thinks of Browning's poem of the poor painter
whose reach exceeds his grasp.

She thinks of crystal serving plates,

glass cruets, good knives stored

on the high shelves, pushed to the back,

as she folds like a morning towel

hanging heavy on the shower pole,

the room still swirling in steam
scented clean by the good shampoo. 

 

                                                                                                Cheryl Emerson

                                                                                                7/9/2013