Mary White—Mad Woman in the Attic

My name is Mary White...

I was born in 1904, a harsh time

Of change in Emporia, Kansas

Money and position seemed—

All that mattered & Charity was just

A cold and disagreeable word

Religion too often wore a mask—

Of bigotry and cruelty, an excuse

For sanctimonious One-Upsmanship

There was no proper place—

For the poor or the unfortunate

Especially the Blacks & Chicanos

My father was the esteemed—

Editor of The Emporia Gazette who

Was a known Hobnobber of Plutocrats

Presidents came and went there—

At Red Rocks our mansion there on

Lovely elm-shaded Exchange Street

I detested my faggy brother Lindsay—

And I hated living in Emporia so full of

Red State Republican Sanctimoniousness

Midwestern Noir