Size / / /

She'll always be a seamstress now,

sewn into a simple black dress,

invisibly mended. Forever on the back fire escape

folded down, the same shoulder length auburn hair,

singing "Tonight" in a dubbed voice.

She wanted to sing her own songs, but

they wouldn't let her. And the Puerto Rican boys.

They're gone, left their aubergine and mango silk shirts

lying in a dumpster in an alley on the West Side,

moved to the Big House, an integrated community,

wear green jumpsuits and watch old movies,

like Splendor in the Grass,

on Friday nights. After lights out,

they lie on their backs in bunk beds

with their arms folded behind their heads and

talk quietly about how she died,

so unexpectedly. The lead lives in the suburbs

with his wife and three children.

He works long hours as a landscaper,

wears blue jeans and white t-shirts with

logos on them saying Save the Planet; at night

has wet cellulose dreams

making unrequited love to Natalie.

He's never gotten over her.




Heidi writes poetry and short story and has been published in chap books, anthologies and literary magazines such as Penwomanship, Quills, The New Quarterly and Contemporary Verse 2, and been read on CBC radio. Last Fall she attended the Wired Workshop in Banff, and has now completed a poetry manuscript which has been accepted by Thistledown Press. Her first book will be published next year. You can send Heidi email at rgarnett@shaw.ca.
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18 Nov 2024

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In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Little Lila by Susannah Rand, read by Claire McNerney. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: Spotify
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