Anita Patel (b. 1959)
SELECTED POEMS
Vanished
My wedding dress disappeared
mysteriously—to my mother’s
consternation…
so many hours had gone into
this frothy concoction
of Italian lace and pale pink ribbon
(reminiscent of handmade
party frocks from my childhood)
She had folded it carefully into
a Chinese camphor wood chest
(owned by her mother)
smoothing gossamer
billows into submission
pressing them gently
into the comfortable
darkness of ancient wood—
but one day when she
peeked into the dimness
it was gone…
all of the creamy, flower
embossed sweetness
vanished…
like flimsy dreams
for a cherished daughter
who did not share her sorrow
at this loss—but gratefully
received the empty, teak hard
box carved with galloping
horses, swaying trees and
boatmen crossing a stormy river.
by Anita Patel
from Petal Falls (2022)
