July 15
       

no one else died and the kids got
married like they wanted to after
finally admitting they felt love in
each other's company all only once
she set aside her misery having slept
on the floor in her gown sobbing
returned to her rival to still set right
the matter of debts and rumors which
seemed to her total injustice she spoke
for the doctor volunteered to meddle
in repair to his reputation as an honest
man and true even her solutions work
every time they benefit others such was
her religion in practical terms despite
her perception that her own lover held
this wife's hands to his mouth and pulled
away in shame when she entered letter in
her hand to explain how she'd fix some
element of their ruin dropped the letter on
the desk and walked out to sob at home
all her interest faded away and yet plot had
her return to finish her favor and unfold
of consequences led to epilogue marriage
she did give up all the land to be with him
the formerly idle painter the spurned heir

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Copyright © 2019 Krystal Languell All rights reserved
from Quite Apart
University of Akron Press
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission