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Here is a sample poem from
No Monster
METAMORPHOSES
A girl transforming into a butterfly
Monica, in the Thai restaurant, stars
in her eyes, enraptured
by the dancer in a dress unfolding like a chrysalis.
Isn't she beautiful, Aunty Alice?
she breathes, trying to copy a butterfly
gesture of the fingers.
Ten years old.
Disease is pulling at her spine the way an archer
draws a strung bow. Her shoulder blades
are the beginning of wings.
Earlier that day, the butterfly house -
Monica holding out her hand, eager and steady,
for all the nameless wings to light on.
One that drooped like ivory lace, a Victorian fichu.
Another that flew
in a black-and-scarlet tarantella around her head.
One whose wings were absolutely sheer
with one blue spot, like naughty lingerie.
Monica is longing to emerge
in all these costumes, to transform her stage
as wardrobe mistress of wings.
Copyright Alice Major
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