THE DRAWING ROOM

The drawing room
is practically empty
of guests
as if it were a sanctuary
to rest
up here in Montpelier
Vermont
over this bed and breakfast
bench with my aunt
to gorge with her
by her pantry kitchen
on these scorched earth
spinach and cheese croissants,
to watch the Persian cat
read the existential Sartre
and study the art prints
of the French surrealist poet
Gregory Masurovsky.