Averno by Louise Glück

PRISM

. . .
4.
When you fall in love, my sister said,
it’s like being struck by lightning.

She was speaking hopefully,
to draw the attention of the lightning.

I reminded her that she was repeating exactly
our mother’s formula, which she and I

had discussed in childhood, because we both felt
that what we were looking at in the adults

were the effects not of lightning,
but of the electric chair.
. . .

Day 26: #TheSealeyChallenge