LETTER FROM
AN UNKNOWN SENDER

My Dearest Girl,

You have come a long convoluted way

a long ship's journey over a stormy ocean

a new language to learn

a new world to explore

I wanted so much for you to dance ballet --

but life needed you to do something else.

You had a marriage --
a difficult one.

You gave birth --
a difficult one.

You traveled

and traveled

and traveled

it seemed you would never
stop

but then you did--

it was a time for us to reacquaint ourselves.

We went to the theatre

to fancy restaurants

to the ballet --

Then — Oh! You became a dancer!

How I wish I could have seen you dance!

And you became a poet too!

I remember when I gave you
my favorite book of poetry —

the one that my beloved Tilo (you will remember my Turkish fiance’)

had given me before he died.

I am with him now and we are happy!

My Dearest Girl,

you are a strong woman

and I know you never thought so

Yet here you are!