Blackbirdan online journal of literature and the artsFall 2018  Vol. 17 No. 2
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an online journal of literature and the arts
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back ELLEN BRYANT VOIGT | from Kyrie

 

Dear Mattie, You’re sweet to write me every day.
The train was not so bad, I found a seat,
watched the landscape flatten until dark,
ate the lunch you packed, your good chess pie.
I’ve made a friend, a Carolina man
who looks like Emmett Cocke, same big grin,
square teeth. Curses hard but he can shoot.
Sergeant calls him Pug I don’t know why.
It’s hot here but we’re not here for long.
Most all we do is march and shine our boots.
In the drills they keep us 20 feet apart
on account of sickness in the camp.
In case you think to send more pie, send two.
I’ll try to bring you back some French perfume.