Lavinia Kumar
If I were not an immigrant maid
or tall house palm plant
I’d wish to melt that $24 chocolate cigar
take a selfie with candied bacon
insist on a US flag in my cocktail
stuff ketchup cups with whipped cream.
I’d pace or plant myself neatly
next to the plastic lollipop tree
hope to stick a pink one in sprayed hair
spill that $150 cognac-plus-garnish
take a stab at that gold saber in a lapel.
I’d hope to thaw the too large ice sculpture,
make a cooling fan of business cards,
ensure that woman in skinny heels trips,
hope someone would actually open windows.
I’d be ready for real air, real life.
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LAVINIA KUMAR’S Spirited American Women: Early Writers, Artists, & Activists consists of short prose of 100 primarily pre-Civil War remarkable women writers, poets, publishers, artists, abolitionists, suffragettes, and activists. She has also published three poetry books and four chapbooks, including topics such women, sciences, environment, medicine/health, literature, art, international travel, and history. Her work is published in a wide variety of journals. She has received four Pushcart nominations and one Best of the Net. She can be found at: laviniakumar.net & lasummer.substack.com.
Union Spring Literary Review 