They offered glory or length of days
and she, who had seen death close,
had no stomach for it.

So she put on soft garments
and hid among the women
talking of children and recipes
and who had got a husband,
caro sposo.

So circumscribed and circumstanced,
practicing petty accomplishments
and playing piano
until the possibility of playing forte
sneaked up on her slyly
and she began to write,
and cough.