Observations
Adah, 1909
Sheridan, Wyoming

by Anna Citrino

I loved the buzz of Sheridan’s streets, the gleam
from electric lamps at night. At work, I overheard
businessmen making deals, became familiar
with the women who worked there,
and regularly helped seal those deals.

Sometimes in the hotel’s hallway,
the women brushed by in low-cut dresses
of lush silk decorated with lace or sequins,
a delicious rustle in their skirts as they
accompanied men to their rooms—
mustached middle-aged men wearing
polished leather shoes, older men, cane in hand,
or men my own age in fine felt hats.

I was taught to keep my body private,
to never talk about what men and women did
behind closed doors. From these women
I heard histories similar to mine of men
who’d stolen their dreams. From them I learned
how to ensure having a child
would be my choice.

Some of these same women gave money
to schools and churches, worked
to improve the town.

I didn’t want to sell my body, but understood
the desire and need. Skin touching skin.
A few minutes of pleasure, craving fulfilled—
people rub against each other, but rarely
are we ever truly touched or understood.

Who is innocent or guilty grows
cloudy when everyone’s stories
are tied together.


* * * * *

"Observations" is part of Anna Citrino's growing longer work of related poems.

Anna Citrino is the author of A Space Between, and Buoyant,  Saudade, and To Find a River. Anna taught abroad in six different countries: Turkey, Kuwait, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, India, and the UK. Her work has appeared in Bellowing Ark, Canary, Evening Street Review, Indelible, Paterson Literary Review, phren-z, Poppy Road Review, and the Porter Gulch Review, among other literary journals. On most any day you can find her going for walks near the coast or biking on paths through rolling hills where she lives in Sonoma County, California. Read more of her writing at annacitrino.com.