FRANKIE McMILLAN

 

hour glass

 
she was a corsetiere 
threading whale bone 
 
through cloth 
 
placing herself close 
to the ocean 
 
became lucrative 
 
when whales surfaced 
she saw 
 
bustles, derrieres, 
 
the amazement of men 
on their wedding night 
 
she scraped her learning 
from medical notes 
 
collapsed lung 
block and tackle 
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Frankie McMillan is a short story writer and poet. She is the author of The Bag Lady’s Picnic and other stories and a poetry collection, Dressing for the Cannibals. Recent poetry has appeared in TurbineSportJAAMSnorkelTroutThe Cincinnati Reviewand Shenandoah.