Reading Days

Henry Jamison

Reading Days

On the fainting couch, that's Monica flare for the dramatic oh, so it goes
and in the kitchen there, that's Leonore
who I adore, whether I should or not well I don't know

and reading the Marquise of O
on the balcony, that's me

Walking in the garden, with Penelope she says "you may kiss me now,
no one will see"
I say "my heart is another's and that makes me free
besides I have a hard-won faith in the eternal Sophie

you think I'd just throw it away, for a little TLC?"

and reading the Answer to Job has been good for me

I was just a narcissist, a solipsist, a fantasist in that old house down by the sea

and reading the Marquise of O
on the balcony, that's me