[Susan McLean]

Unspoken

She rarely talked about herself, so I
sifted for clues: her chemistry degree,
her skill at tax prep and at making pie,
her killer tennis serve, her memory
(near photographic). Calm and self-effacing
in public, but an ace at bridge, she knew
intricate routes and drove them fast, outracing
yellow lights. She raised five children, grew
wisteria, roses, irises, and played
piano after the kids were all in bed.
Then, surging waves of splendor rolled and swayed,
lifting my heart and flooding through my head
as tides are pulled and tumbled by the moon.
Chopin. Moonlight Sonata. "Clair de Lune."


Revisions:
L2-3 was "was left to puzzle out her mystery / from meager clues: her skill at making pie,"
L6 "an ace" was "a whiz"
L7 "intricate routes and drove them fast" was "her way and drove with confidence"
L11 was "Then, waves of surging splendor rolled and swayed,"
L12 "flooding" as "flowing"
L13 Period was a colon
L14 was "Chopin, "Moonlight Sonata," "Clair de Lune.""