My mother told me it is cold here.
I thought Ohio is near West Virginia
and West Virginia is near Virginia,
and this is in the south of the country.
But now there is snow. I have called
the woman at the real estate office,
the woman who showed me the
apartment in the fall. I have said
that I don’t know how to drive
in the snow, and also that I
do not have the clothes
for cold weather.
She has told me nothing,
this woman. I think that she
and I will not be friends. Her
voice says to me, Why did not
my husband get this job? Why
are you coming here? Her voice
laughs at me because of
these questions.
I think that this is not my fault,
that the company believes
an engineering degree is
necessary in order to
schedule the workers.
I have this degree.
If I am not coming here, I am
working at the dam in Brasil.
My mother prefers that. It is
closer. She thinks that I will
fall in love, stay here, even
when eight months is over.
I do not see anything to love.
I know there is shale under the
snow, and gas inside the shale,
and money to keep me here
for eight months.
That is all.
For Open Link Night at dVerse Poets.
Marilyn Rauch Cavicchia 
knowing what one doesn’t know is key here… love it!
Thank you! I’ve been doing lots of persona poems lately, about people who interconnect in some ways but might not know or understand each other well.
Well I hope you can learn to drive in snow…moving to a new place is always has its problems. Love the perspective of the poem…
Thanks! I don’t like to drive in snow, myself — this poem has a persona that is not me, but she and I do share that in common.
I like the writing here, but I feel sad for the person without love of job or place. Life can pass too quickly for someone with such a worldview.
Thanks. And yes, she’s a pretty unhappy persona — that’s not much to build a life on, is it?
very interesting movement of thought here. I have an Altima and it drives great in the snow, just saying. Nicely done, definitely enjoyed the read
Thanks! I chose the Nissan Altima because I know we’ve rented them before. I didn’t come out and say it, but I think Sofia Elena has rented this car at the airport. Good to know that it handles snow — maybe at least she’ll get there safely! 🙂