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< Poems by Linda Harvey >

A black-and-white photo of a woman with shoulder-length hair. She is seated facing the camera, wearing a sweater, with bookshelves behind her.

Who do they say that you are?
for Sylvia Plath's critics

Holbrook thinks you're schizoid.
The feminists rage.

Sexton is so jealous
she didn't win this race.

Alvarez thinks he's got it—
how wrong could he be?

Even Ted's been barking
                            tree.
                      wrong
                 the
            up

Mother knows her daughter,
for what that's worth.

Letter Home should prove it—
or does Bell Jar speak the truth?

© Linda Harvey. For permission to re-use contact  godfrey@wordsout.co.uk.