by Carolina Morales        

                                                  after Diane Arbus

Years before my birth
              she poses in a mirror

hung on the back
              of her bedroom door,

composes her tawny stance,
              ripe breasted, melon bellied,

tilts a head crowned
              in thorn-brown hair, balances

along an angled cane,
              preens her slender neck,

cropped inside the frame, camera,
              naked wall, bed already made.

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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.