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RENÉE

Dear Grandmother

Husbands are a necessary part of the design
God drew on his sketch pad, Sister Joseph tells you

if he hit you for flirting with a man you wouldn’t
be seen dead with – it’s the drink, the devil drink –

he’s a good man really, always money in the plate
and I’ve told you about that smile before.

So, so – here is handsome Arthur on the butcher’s cart –
he’s looked at you over the minced beef for months –

You smile that smile and he smiles back.
‘A pound of the best fillet,’ you say.
‘Coming up,’ says Arthur,

a man, it turns out, you are happy to be seen dead with.

 

 

 

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