by Carolina Morales

Plated in brass, cushioned
with velvet, silvered
on copper sheet, embedded
in ornamental Union Case,
his grey eyes stare
from a youthful face
collared and capped
in Union garb, protected

by glass from a war fought
more than 100 years ago.

My bronze skin and dark
hair surface across
the pale image mirrored
from my palm’s lined map,
as slanted to the left,
tilted to the right, we
reverse through darkness,
transpose into light.

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Author Bio:

Carolina Morales is the author of three collections of poetry, Bride of Frankenstein and Other Poems (2008), In Nancy Drew’s Shadow (2010), and Dear Monster (2012), each published by Finishing Line Press. Her poems have appeared in the Journal of New Jersey Poets, Paterson Literary Review, US1 Worksheets, Nimrod, Poet Lore, Spoon River Poetry Review, and other journals. In 2011, Carolina’s short play The Last December was produced by Fire Rose Productions in North Hollywood, California.