During a rough patch
Aunt history
Left her husband
And went to Carthage
To see her parents
Dido and Acerbus
This was before
They were killed by fire
It was a good time—
Pygmalion
Visited
And gave out
Silver toothpicks—
(The ivory girl
Yet to come)
There was laughter
In the manner
Of demi-gods
A mechanical sound
Tin birds colliding
“Well” she thought,
“At least History laughs
Like a man”
When she got home
She found History
Could also weep
Planet of the Blind 