Mailbox
Diane de Echeandia
Rising tall—though leaning
out of ice-encrusted muddy rut,
beneath somber metallic skies,
waits this silent
one-legged roadside sentinel.
Forlorn—once smacked
by prankster ball-bat,
nudged by county snowplow.
Dutiful deliverer of
life-changing letter--
words that stunned,
stifled her breath,
froze her heart.