Hello, Jim,
Thank you for your thoughtful response and for reinforcing Julie’s interpretation. It’s always fascinating when readers uncover layers in a poem that even the author hadn’t consciously intended—and this may be one of those cases. I hadn’t initially considered that angle, but I welcome it, as it adds a deeper dimension to the poem.
My main concern was ensuring the imagery didn’t lean toward Victorian melodrama (as Glenn’s take suggested), and I believe the current revision of line two has resolved that.
I truly appreciate your insight, Jim—it's given me even more to think about in terms of how this piece resonates.
Cheers,
...Alex
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