The Daughters of Block Island

by Christa Carmen

It lords over the beach like an errant queen who’s lifted her heavy skirts and settled down beside a neighborhood tavern.

It’s not only acceptable, but preferable, to leave well enough alone,

“Go from here, while you still have the chance. Before a fate worse than mine, worse than death, befalls you.”

“When they call me Mrs. Sherman, I like to think they’re paying me a compliment, bestowing upon me the name of one of their own, rather than actively erasing my heritage.”