Poetry books stacked on the sofa
Poetry on the sofa

Poems by Joannie Kervran Stangeland
If Wishes Were Horses
   The Curse
   Counting Chickens
   All in One Place
   Sway
   From Here
   The Seamstress Speaks
   Under Cover
   From Seeds
   Duet
   The Remedy
   Out of Nothing
   Voices
   This Gyre
   Nocturne
   With Horses
   Neighbors
   The Unexpected Visitor
   The Traveler
   The Long Way
   The Fortune

   Fitting
   The Measure of
     Possession
   What We Could Do
   Blue Sky

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If Wishes Were Horses


Fitting

Behind the window glass:
pink satin and a shape
as fine as crystal goblets,
a silver spoon.

Each day I paused
in my heavy brogues,
admired the smooth ties
and slender, tapered heels.

Then I stood at the center,
ribbons laced at my ankles,
chandeliers cutting light
in seven directions

and a brace of men, graceful as in turn
they took my perfumed fingers.
The viols played all night.
My rose shoes matched my gown.

I could not save enough
to pay the price for slippers.
One morning they were gone.
I crossed to the street's other side.