Middle House Review
Frances Boyle "What We Looked For"
You on your bike would scan the driveways,
garages, front walks, me browsing alongside,
dipping into the crowded passageways, fingering
necklaces. Carnival atmosphere with blocks’ worth
of neighbours selling. You’d extend an arm, point
to where the treasures lay. A lamp, a small stand
for the philodendron I spied, the Guatemalan pot
to plant it in. China plates for our mismatched
table setting. A nearly full set of the same
blackbottomed crystal glassware I’d had when I
was married before. Rug, with a stain we could hide
by strategically placing chairs. I’d always stop
at the arrays of paperbacks, add an armful. Hot dogs
in the church parking lot, where we’d pause to collect
ourselves, assess our findings, arrange them
within our notions of home.
Bio:
Frances Boyle is the author of two books of poetry, a novella and an award-winning short story collection, with a third book of poetry forthcoming in 2022. Recent and upcoming publications include Best Canadian Poetry 2020, Blackbird, The Maynard and Paris Lit Up. She lives in Ottawa, Canada. www.francesboyle.com; @francesboyle19