Rita Frances Dove (born August 28, 1952) is an American poet and author. From 1993-1995 she served as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, a position now popularly known as "United States Poet Laureate". She was the first, and to date only, African-American to be appointed since the position was created by an act of Congress in 1986 out of the previous "consultant in poetry" position
Canary
By Rita Dove
Billie Holiday’s burned voice
had as many shadows as lights,
a mournful candelabra against a sleek piano,
the gardenia her signature under that ruined face.
(Now you’re cooking, drummer to bass,
magic spoon, magic needle.
Take all day if you have to
with your mirror and your bracelet of song.)
Fact is, the invention of women under siege
has been to sharpen love in the service of myth.
If you can’t be free, be a mystery.
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