the picture seems so perfect
it is an image of the happiest conventions

   rob and laura petrie

     the cover of house beautiful

       the front of a christmas card

an even line
stretching across the center of a graph
when it breaks
and veers steadily  d
                              o
                               w
                                 n
                                  w
                                    a
                                      r
                                       d
how long will it take you to realize
that what you have been posing for
is only a picture
like anyone can get
standing next to a laminated marilyn or jfk
it's you

   looking real

     with your arm around a prop

       the one with the cardboard heart


©1998 Gail Von Schlichting


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