“And the fiery heart of youth”

I dreamed I had a twin up north, more twin

Than not, not quite conjoined but closely same,

Identical in soul, New England spin

Inside us both.  A pheasant’s breast aflame

With afternoon’s Connecticut light rays

Revealed this relative to me.  I knew

Him right away.  I knew this man, with blaze

Of recognition, long before the pew

At Vespers later.  I had been betrayed

By birth in Florida.  My birthright, urged

Because this twin was mine, left me dismayed.

My Crackerishness had to be submerged.

  New England was my home, my real one, true.

    I felt this in my Sabbath bones.  I knew.

~ Phillip Whidden