Lies and Longing
Half the women are asleep
on the floor
on pieces of cardboard.
One is face down under a blanket with
her feet and ankle bracelet showing.
Her spear leans against the wall
by her head
where she can reach it.
The woman who sits on a chair
won’t speak because
this is not her dress.
An old woman sings an Italian song
in English and says she wants her name
in lights: Faye Runaway.
Tells about her grown children.
One asks for any kind of medicine.
One says she has a rock
that means honor
and a piece of fur.
One woman’s feet are wrapped in rags.
One keeps talking about
how fat she is
so nobody will know she’s pregnant.
They lie about getting letters.
One lies about a beautiful dead man.
One lies about Denver.
Outside
it’s Thirtieth Street and hot
and no sun.
Linda Gregg
Posted over on The Poetry Foundation
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