First lady of the environment

~Danielle Devereaux

 

The lounge for famous people who’ve made it

to heaven has an open bar, faux-leather sofas,

and a wide-screen TV. Most nights there are fights

over who gets the flicker, arguments about

 

syndicated reruns, the merits of Technicolor,

but everyone loves an awards show. Al Gore

gets an Oscar, and the gamblers put money

on Rachel Carson. The next pop culture

 

comeback, First Lady of the Environment.

She pays it no mind, until Che Guevara

stands before her, takes her hand

in his, nods discreetly toward Pocahontas.

 

“Miss Carson,” he says, “If Disney

makes a movie, you must never watch it.”

He is wearing a yellow Che T-shirt.

Pocahontas has taken to haunting

 

landfills, rescuing plastic Pocahontas

Barbies. She washes their long hair,

their slim bodies the colour of whisky.

Knits miniature sweaters and long underwear,

 

stitches tiny patchwork skirts. Tucks

each doll snug, beneath a buffalo hide

blanket. Rachel has heard her

humming lullabies at night.

 

 

Rachel Carson over for tea: read it in Quarc.

Danielle Devereaux’s chapbook, Cardiogram, will be published by Baseline Press this fall. She lives in St. John’s.

 

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