Elizabeth Russell 12/3/22 Elizabeth Russell 12/3/22

A Queen’s Marriage - Part 2

Today, she sat upon her throne as upon a rock of refuge in the ocean, assailed by the pounding waves of questions and looks and simpers, and carefully, stoically, she kept her gaze straight ahead, looking neither to the right, nor to the left, nor into the eyes of any person.

Elizabeth Russell 11/21/22 Elizabeth Russell 11/21/22

I Have Seen Enough Cafés

There are enough cafés.

In my mind, I’ve seen

what Paris looks like

in the morning

Elizabeth Russell 11/21/22 Elizabeth Russell 11/21/22

A Queen’s Marriage - Part 1

She looked out her window at the courtiers filing past below, two-and-two: the wives flirting with the bachelors, the husbands ignoring their women in favor of business, and all their children neglected at home, and she shuddered. No, it was not to them she wished to show her splendor.

Elizabeth Russell 11/21/22 Elizabeth Russell 11/21/22

The Fatigued Bride

Once upon a time, Bernadette lived in a hut with her mother, father, six brothers, and two sisters, and in this hut, they play-acted, and sang, and spoke of many truths of religion and philosophy, and all were happy. Then one day, a witch saw their joy, and cast a curse upon them to torment their happiness, and turn all things to bitterness…

Elizabeth Russell 11/21/22 Elizabeth Russell 11/21/22

The Restless Sleeper and the Hedgetrimmer

“Rest, my little one.” The voice, within her dream, was so quiet and reassuring, and she yearned to sink deep. But habitually, she doubted. Rest was not for her - she must trim the hedge. She had left her work undone. She must wakeup.

“But I have sent you a hedgetrimmer,” said the voice again. “Here he comes.”