"EVERY GIRL OF FIFTEEN HAS PUT THE SAME QUESTION TO HER
MIRROR, AM I BEAUTIFUL?"
Anais Nin 1937 Diary entry
Arielle, in the
room the mulberries
shade, puts down
the note book.
The new moon
thru maples, Rosh
Hodesh. Candles
and roses.
She brushes
Devora's un-braided
amber hair, sends
her downstairs
from this second floor.
She can see her
kneeling with the
dog in the backyard,
closes the door.
In guava light
Arielle stands in
her silky slip,
breasts are just
swelling under the
lace of, smoothes
the pale folds,
wonder if she
is pretty