Our Women’s History Month celebration would hardly be complete without the queen of them all, Cleopatra!

We offer a nine poem series, of which this is the first.

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Recorded Reading (0:48): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/badeiwkegd2eelodt9chh/cleo.mp3?rlkey=ncwqwvgq8so1zufivs496z9uo&dl=0

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cleo

she appeared
in slender silhouette
against the burning
backdrop
of all of ancient
civiliation

a basket
in her hands

cradled lovingly
in arms
which had never
lifted anything
for themselves
before

she smiled
for her cowering women

that smile
which had humbled princes
conquered kingdoms
altered in some way the course
of every life on earth

and said
lightly

“anyone coming with me?…”

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Until removal of the stalker/targeter/vandal/arsonist following her allows her to approach any landlord ~ even for a private parking space ~ and to begin once again to create professional connections and to rebuild her life, this poet presently lives homeless and at a fraction of her nation’s poverty level ~ still working seven days a week to contribute to her society, however.

Arts patrons may visit http://www.UgiftABLE.com , using code #72D-31S, or choose to send a personal check to the poet’s ABLE account. It takes about two weeks for the poet to be notified of your patronage.

Thank you for supporting quality in the fine arts.