Crush

When I say that history was my favourite

I’m thinking less of the Weimar Republic

or the militarisation of Japan

than Miss R’s contralto discipline

and her homemade Chanel suits.

For her I spend my afternoons

between the light blue covers

of the Cambridge History of England.

Pendant mes vacances

my special project is Eleanora Duse.

When she asks if she can keep it

I am nonchalant as hell.