Love on Imaginary Boulevard The letter arrives in her mailbox on a sunny day in April, that cruel month mixes winter and spring: cold rain on bright daffodils. I’d like to tell you she tears the envelope flap open, breeze blowing magnolia leaves, perfume scent mixing with honeysuckle but she presses the sealed letter to her heart, waits until she’s alone, hours later, bedroom door locked. In blue on the back flap: Regional Jail, her sister’s words already read by guards. “I love you. Please send cash and perfumed shampoo.” Copyright 2022 Kathy Cable Smaltz
Bio:
Kathy Cable Smaltz’s poems have been published in numerous journals and her poetry collection, Pieces, was published by Piedmont Press.
A VCCA creative fellow, she served as Prince William County’s Poet Laureate from 2016-2018.
Married for 25 years, she and her husband have a son in college and three teenagers.
A fine, clear, touching narrative, deftly told. Thank you.