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1 " To be the other womanis to be a seasonthat is always about to end,when the air is floweredwith jasmine and peach,and the weather day after dayis flawless,and the forecastis hurricane. "
― Linda Pastan , The Imperfect Paradise
2 " I have dreamed of our bed as if it were a shore where we would be washed up, not this striped mattress we must cover with sheets. [from "After an Absence"] "
3 " I will always be the other woman.I disappearfor a timelike the moon in daylight,then rise at night all mother-of-pearlso that a man’s upturned face,watching,will have reflected on itthe milk of longing.And though he may leave, memorywill perfect me.One day the lightmay fall in a certain wayon Penelope’s hair,and he will pause wildly…but when she turns,it will only be his wife, to whomwhite sheets simply mean laundry—even Nausikaäin her silly braidsthought more washing linenthan of him,preferring Odysseusclean and oiledto that briny,unkempt lionI would choose.Let Dido and her kindleap from cliffsfor love.My men will moan and dream of mefor years…desire and need become the same animalin the silkendark.To be the other womanis to be a seasonthat is always about to end,when the air is floweredwith jasmine and peach,and the weather day after dayis flawless,and the forecastis hurricane. "