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Poetry > Plays > Projects
Alice Shapiro
Alice Shapiro
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2:39 m
Jean Arthur at the Lincoln Memorial
By Collin Kelley
She comes out of the temple's shadows, in profile against a fluted Doric
column, hat tipped Bogart-style over one eye. She perches on the edge of
Jimmy Stewart's suitcase, following a hunch he'd be there when he wasn't
anyplace else. Husky voiced, half-faced angel, an engraved coin. No screwball
comedy here, just a savior throwing a shadow bigger than Mr. Smith's.
Without her, he would be fed to the machine, common rightness thrown out
the window with all that "of the people by the people for the people" jazz
inscribed at Honest Abe's feet. All the good that ever came into this world
came from fools with faith. So, she plays the biggest fool of all, a puppet
master who takes no credit for her creation. Seventy years later she still
moves through the interior, makes no sound, looks east over the reflecting
pool, history at her back, the Union, once again, in peril.
Copyright © 2009 by Collin Kelley
"Jean Arthur at the Lincoln Memorial" a prose poem was nominated for a 2009 Pushcart Prize by Hobble Creek Review.
By Collin Kelley
She comes out of the temple's shadows, in profile against a fluted Doric
column, hat tipped Bogart-
anyplace else. Husky voiced, half-
Without her, he would be fed to the machine, common rightness thrown out
the window with all that "of the people by the people for the people" jazz
inscribed at Honest Abe's feet. All the good that ever came into this world
came from fools with faith. So, she plays the biggest fool of all, a puppet
master who takes no credit for her creation. Seventy years later she still
moves through the interior, makes no sound, looks east over the reflecting
pool, history at her back, the Union, once again, in peril.
Copyright © 2009 by Collin Kelley
"Jean Arthur at the Lincoln Memorial" a prose poem was nominated for a 2009 Pushcart Prize by Hobble Creek Review.
Collin Kelley is the author of the novel, Conquering Venus (2009, Vanilla Heart Publishing), and three poetry collections, After the Poison, Slow To Burn and Better To Travel. Kelley, a Georgia Author of the Year Award-winner and Pushcart Prize nominee, is also co-editor of the Java Monkey Speaks Poetry Anthology series from Poetry Atlanta Press. His poetry has appeared in journals and magazines around the world. www.collinkelley.com.