by Helen Gwyn Jones
Epilogue
She would be the crow that remains
still, unrushed by the rumors
what people said
when they came close and sighed
sotto voce
“he is a good man”
as if meaning
“despite overwhelming proofs
of the contrary”
as if his secret goodness
were so concealed
she might miss it.
Still. She would be the crow
that remains
in spite of the rumpus
unscathed by random
lashes hitting her wrists
her calves
sometimes creasing her cheek
with vertical marks like
long rolling tears.
Still, but not like a crow.
No. Like a flamingo, tall and thin
donning a pink suit
on one leg and on pause
ecstatic anchorite
kissed by the setting sun.
Toti O’Brien is the Italian Accordionist with the Irish Last Name. Born in Rome, living in Los Angeles, she is an artist, musician, and dancer. She is the author of Other Maidens (BlazeVOX, 2020), An Alphabet of Birds (Moonrise Press, 2020), In Her Terms (Cholla Needles Press, 2021), Pages of a Broken Diary (Pski’s Porch, 2022) and Alter Alter (Elyssar Press, 2022). http://totihan.net/index.html https://www.facebook.com/toti.obrien/
Helen Gwyn Jones (she/her) started recording her world at the age of 8 when she bought a Brownie camera from her sister, something which has become a lifelong passion. A collector of the past, she likes nothing better than muted images of imperfection. May be found poring over Welsh grammar books when not photographing drains or going into raptures over rust. Originally from Wales, now living in Spain. Recent publications include Hungry Ghost Project, Free Flash Fiction, Acropolis Journal, Paddler Press, Blink-Ink, Hecate, Pareidolia, Moss Puppy, The Levatio, Camas, Subliminal, Terse.Instagram and Twitter: @helengwynjones Facebook: Helen Gwyn Jones Photographic Artist