The lady downstairs
doesn’t know where she is.
She’s standing in her dining room
looking out the window,
but where is that?
Her african violets, tiffany lamps,
fine velvet chairs,
the lovely painting she
created years ago,look
familiar. And did she phone
the doctor to come and talk
or was that yesterday?
Her not knowing is seeping
through the ceiling
into my head as I wait
for your call, so I can
laugh at your bad jokes
and feel sane again.
Ah, you’re so charming
and lethal.
Will I survive your
attention?
I’m the lady upstairs
who tries to keep it all
together, but who knows?
~ Cornelia Hornosty
Cornelia Hornosty has published poetry in literary magazines such as Harpweaver, Event, CV2, Fiddlehead, Grain, Room of One’s Own, Monday’s Poem, Malahat Review, Windsor Review, and Nashwaak Review. Her short fiction has appeared in Pottersfield Portfolio, New Quarterly and Dalhousie Review. Three poetry collections have been published by Borealis Press in Ottawa and a chapbook by Leaf Press titled Small Lake with Pine Trees in 2003. A new collection titled Ordinary Days was published in December, 2007 by Ekstasis Editions in Victoria.
