Pagan Heaven

Marilyn Monroe
rococo, all
pink and vanilla
floating in
the sky like
a Tiepolo
nude.  Bountiful
goddess.  Bares
breasts with-
out shame.
Sugary like
an ice cream
float.

I like to
believe she's
having a
pleasant after-
life.  No one's
wife.  A
cerulean sky
behind her.
Air is her
element.  She
dwells in
pagan heaven.


Pagan Heaven appeared in American Writing volume 20. I am told that the late Alexandra Grilikhes used it as a teaching text in her poetry workshop.


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