Waxy brown parcels tied with string
are delivered and collected from the house
in the Rue de Jacob. Tea and molasses, tubes
of haemorrhoid cream and lozenges go to Italy
for Romaine Brookes. A scarf pin and a handbag
stuffed with ten pound notes goes to England
for Dolly Wilde’s rehab. Death comes to the Archbishop
and The Glass Harp are on order. Katherine Mansfield’s
Letters arrived today. They say you are the heroine
of all the outstanding books this season.
Mary-Jane Duffy
