mary woods reynolds cowan

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Mary

I was thin as a ridge pole, or corn stalks in the shade
in those coves high enough to hijack morning clouds,
all through school and university and half
my marriage, until he said he loved someone
or something — freedom — more than he could me.
I learned to love to eat as well as cook
and nibbled while I graded history papers
and during meals as well as in between.
I had a thousand friends, not only pupils —
also the Chinese missionary, Cherokees,
summer house parties chock full of nieces and nephews.


from Oak and Mimosa by Alan Reynolds