New Jersey Gothic

[arisbe]

Westfield -- perhaps Charles Addams still lived here
At least the spooky houses stood intact
Inspiring lovely parodies of fear
Enfleshed in Maila Nurmi's sublime act.

Here I was raised from death to life, they say,
Unimmersed, unchrismated, thirst unappeased,
Wrapped up and taken home the shortest way
To clockwork mothering, like one diseased.

One day I wandered into traffic, when
My mother and the clock were sleeping sound,
Untonsured peregrinus even then,
Perpetually lost even when found.

Morticia, Gomez, Pugsley bless the path
Of one who cannot choose well but to laugh.

---

© 2002 FP Purcell