Barbara Stanwyck and "Witness to a Murder" [by David Lehman]

Witness to a Murder

She saw a murder.
She bought all the papers.
She pocketed the murdered woman's earrings.
She called the police.
She smoked a cigarette.
She told her story and was not believed.
She deduced that the door had been tampered with.
She answered the doctor's unreasonable questions reasonably.
She heard the woman say one thing: "Mr. Peabody will see you in the drawing room."
She didn't back down.
She insisted she saw the ex-Nazi kill the girl, "Joyce Stewart."
She didn't write the threatening letters that were typed on her machine.
She didn't get ticketed, just scolded, for speeding on a scary mountainous road.
She took the elevator down.
She ran in the street.
She hurried up the black and white steps pursued by shadows. 

8 / 19 / 08

Comments

[lally]

yes she did

[Robert Pinsky]

Terrific!

RP

[The Best American Poetry]

Thank you, Robert. I wonder whether it would be quite as effective without the naming of Barbara and her picture. -- DL

[Michael Shepler]

My kid brother was terrified by the old lady when she'd say : "Show Mr. Peabody to the library please!". Love the Santana wind in the opening scene. Very evocative poem!

[The Best American Poetry]

Thank you, Michael.