Here lies
James Harleck
1850-1930
Merchant, Patriot, Statesman
For his industry and generosity
he will be long remembered
Also
Catherine, his wife.
__________________________________
Also? She bore seven children,
one of them not quite right:
he had to be tethered to a staircase rail
so he didn’t harm himself.
Also she bled a lot,
slipping silently off while birthing
that eighth bloody babe born dead.
Mr. Harleck was just that touch
too generous,
too industrious with her.
Also?
She was thirty.
This article appears in January 2009.
