You know, life

You know the story.

A woman’s seeking,

you know,

And she meets,

you know,

And he’s just what she,

you know.

And everything seems fine until,

marriage,

well, you know.

Her mother,

His mother,

And couldn’t he,

And couldn’t she,

And really, who could with…

And no money.

And children, oh, the children,

And maybe if he,

And maybe if she,

But no one expected,

well, you know.

 

 

how suddenly

how suddenly
padded shoulders vanished,
bodies unbranded were
never seen except
in old movies

hats of miraculous shapes,
black veils, gloves of lemon yellow
died along with her old face,
no longer hers but
a sadder woman’s

her to do-list
had nothing to do
with anything
anyone ever
wanted to do

 
Carla Sarett’s recent appears or is forthcoming in Hobart, Prole, Third Wednesday and elsewhere; and her essays have been nominated for Best American Essays and the Pushcart Prize.  Her novel, A Closet Feminist, will be published in 2022 (Unsolicited Press.). Carla has a Ph.D. from University of Pennsylvania, and lives in San Francisco.