I’m seated at Gautreau’s, uptown, with Laine,
fine student, now good friend. Obliged to book
an early hour—few choices in this bane,
the Covid sequel—we take time to look
at wine lists, menus, chatting; appetite’s
aroused thereby, and memories. How well
she wrote, with industry and her own lights
enlisted to identify the spell
that poetry can cast from mishap. She,
discrete with men, and proud, yet fell for one
who would not marry her. But destiny
has its own means, and will not be undone.
She went to Colorado for the birth,
then gave the child to others. What reward
for all!—their happiness, her proven worth,
his manhood now. We talk it over, shored
together like a seawall, facing force
with force, and mercy for the wounded heart.
The wine arrives, and then a starter course.
We sound out memory, these years apart.
A toast to you, Laine—to your steadfast ways,
which let you love an imago unseen—
as those whose past is lost endure, to praise
dim figures wrapped in darkness, strong, serene.
—Catharine Savage Brosman
You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
