Abandoned Farmhouse BY TED KOOSER He was a big man, says the size of his shoes on a pile of broken dishes by the house; a tall man too, says the length of the bed in an upstairs room; and a good, God-fearing man, says the Bible with a broken back on the floor below […]

An Early Afterlife by Linda Pastan Why don’t we say good-bye right now In the fallacy of perfect health before whatever is going to happen happens. We could perfect our parting, like those characters in On the Beach who said farewell in the shadow of the bomb as we sat watching, young and holding hands […]

A Children’s Story by Louise Gluck Tired of rural life, the king and queen return to the city, all the little princesses rattling in the back of the car singing the song of being: I am, you are, he, she, it is— But there will be no conjugation in the car, oh no. Who can […]

“Autumn” by Louise Glück The part of life devoted to contemplation was at odds with the part committed to action. Fall was approaching. But I remember it was always approaching once school ended. Life, my sister said, is like a torch passed now from the body to the mind. Sadly, she went on, the mind […]