The Cold that Settles Sideways in My Bones: Five Portraits
Originally published in volume 16 issue 1 of Wilderness House Literary Review.
1. Chastity and Chance
You would recognize her in an instant if you saw her now--she is growing into her mother.
2. Lady and Sylvia
She dangles her paws over the edge of the porch in the shadow of the eave when it gets warm, then hot. She folds one paw over the other as if in prayer.
3. James and Chastity
Lady’s barking merged into the cough and rattle of his ancient Chevy block. He killed the engine expectantly but we two stayed seated.
4. William and me
He wanted to take me to a show in Knoxville or even as far away as Nashville the other day. I told him I couldn’t leave Lady, Sylvia, Chance and all my others to their own devices.
