To Jane Austen

Dear Jane,

I was glad to hear
you finished another piece.
Continually you impress
me and I am eager
to read whatever wonderful
excursions you have invented
in that excellent little head
of yours.

Do you ever wish, darling,
you were a heroine in your written
imagination? I often play
Elizabeth Bennett in my mind –
though I keep this to myself;
my conversations with Darcy
are silent, though if one gazes
closely into my eyes, they might
see a twinkling of admiration
or perhaps the laugh after a charming
joke I have thought up
to tell him.

I quite imagine you write
for the reasons I imagine:
we wish for love. You needn’t
hide this from me.

While it is not romantic love,
you have all the love in the world
and more
from me.