Sappho in Her Study

　　by Kelly Cherry

　　 The files in the filing cabinet

　　 Are all talking at once.

　　 Mumble jumble， say the files

　　 In the filing cabinet.

　　 The desk， discreet，

　　 Discloses nothing.

　　 Rough drafts live

　　 A roustabout life，

　　 Tumbling from shelves，

　　 While books， published

　　 and smugly replete，

　　 No longer feel the need

　　 To compete.

　　 Stationery sprawls，

　　 Casual as sunbathers.

　　 In the locked drawer，

　　 Love letters lie.

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