underworld sorority

if patti smith met burroughs who else did she meet and is she in fact part of this invisible sorority this underground ecriture feminine that moves in the dark and scribbles after lights out or in moments stolen from the domestic realm and hidden at the top of cupboards away from husbands and errands and that creature put on like a venetian mask and called wife rather than artist poet writer publisher painter sculptor the shoes match the handbag match the lipstick match the nail laquer match the colours of her nightmares the drudgery and repetition lifted away only briefly when she is not on display when she can let her smile down and let her belly out and let her breath come rushing in to strengthen her resolve to just keep going until the children go to sleep and the husband is out with the other husbands and the front porch is finally hers for smoking and writing and thinking without interruption just hold on until patti is free