Jane Yolen
Life and death,
that old duo.
Watch them dance.
It is a two-step,
And they bas-relief
on the castle wall.
He holds her firmly
in his dark hands.
She pretends to faint.
He places her gently on
the couch, administers
mouth-to-mouth.
Not for resuscitation,
but titillation,
her tongue licking his.
They laugh, that old duo.
What else can they do.
Nothing is funny any more.
***
Jane Yolen is the author of over 370 published books including 10 books of poetry for adults. She has won two Nebulas, a World Fantasy Award, a Caldecott, three Mythopoeic awards, two Christopher Medals, a nomination for the National Book Award, the Jewish Book Award, the Kerlan Award, the Catholic Library’s Regina Medal, a nomination for the National Book Award, as well as six honorary doctorates. She was the first writer to win a New England Public Radio’s Arts & Humanities Award. Despite her many awards, she has this warning: Don’t go chasing fame. Just write. One of her awards set her good coat on fire.