Halden Ingwersen

Agnes Scott College, Decatur, Georgia

 

Embroidery

 

The correct answer

when given the choice between permission

and forgiveness, is the third.

Pierce the needle through

your pressed lips

and draw tight the waxy thread

to feel the tensed pull.

The black seam

stitched across your mouth

is safe.

Ask neither and do neither.

Simply sit and wish,

and sew.