Introduction # 72 Claine Keily

She crossed her legs
tried to make it seem
effortless
for she had disliked
the way he held
his cup so close
to his mouth
when he spoke to her
even though he had finished drinking

By way of introduction
he had commented
on the pockmarks
now almost completely faded
on her chin

That was the first time
she turned from him
towards the bookshelves
beside her front door
and decided
the money she had spent
on the dress patterned
with orange flowers
would have been better spent
on further volumes
by Dickinson and the Brontes