SILVER GHOST
A VISIT FROM A RELATIVE
A middle aged slender woman
And her husband
Enter Beth Israel Medical Center
First Avenue and 11th Street
Manhattan
1100 bed hospital
Saint Laurent Marmot noir fur coat
Long sleeved sequined mini-dress
Husband in a Tom Ford suit
Gray stripes
Jacquard stitching
Approach front desk
I am here
To see a patient
– Can I have the patient’s name?
Francine Powell
– Hmm, are you sure
-That is the name?
Of course I am sure
She is my relative
She is my great aunt Fannie
– There is no one registered
– By that name
– Perhaps you have
-The wrong hospital
This is the right hospital
In fact until today
I did not know
That she’s been here for twenty years
Twenty years!
Is she sick?
What’s wrong with her?
An administrator
Approaches the desk
– Why do you
– Want to see Ms. Powell?
She’s my Aunt Fannie
And none of her family
Knows that she lives here
– She does not allow visitors
It’s a hospital
Patients have visitors
– Madam does not allow visitors
Let’s go home Grace
We tried
I’m not going anywhere Daniel
Until I see my aunt
Turns to the Administrator
We need to know
That she’s ok
She’s our blood
She’s our blood
Area on third floor
Set aside
For our special patient
Concierge service
Flat screen TV
In room sleep sofas
For family members
Grace and Daniel
Knock on the door
Private night nurse Maddie
Greets them
Jamaican lady
– Madam is sleeping
– Who are you?
How is she?
How is my aunt?
– You her niece?
– What’s your name?
I’m her great niece Grace
Her big half sister
Marilyn Powell Jeffries
Was my great grandmother
Aunt Fannie is the last of them
How is she?
– She’s good
– Able to walk around the room
– With assistance
– Has an appetite
Grace thinks of an excuse
To get in the room
Can I go in
And give her a blessing?
– No, no
– Madam does not like to be disturbed
– You need to take this up with Mita
– She’s her main nurse
– Come back tomorrow
Just a quick blessing
For my dear Aunt Fannie
I won’t bother her
Sleeping peacefully
Silver haired little woman
Room filled with dolls
French antique porcelain dolls
And Smurfs
– Madam has big doll collection
– Biggest I’ve ever seen
But she has no children
Or grandchildren
– Oh no, they’re Madam’s dolls
– Come back tomorrow
– During the day
– Mita will be here
Next day
Grace and Daniel
Arrive again
Pint sized Indian nurse
Mita
Opens the door
Tells them
Madam Powell was very upset
Was very upset
– You just turned up
– Uninvited
– And barged into her room
We need to know
That she’s ok
She’s our blood
I’m her niece
– Madam doesn’t care
– Who you are
– You just barged in on Madam
– How dare you?
Grace tries to peek
Into the room
How dare me?
I’m her niece
Can hear Francine Powell
Her great aunt
The Copper Heiress
In the background
Calling out for Mita
Mita? What’s going on?
Mita?
High pitched voice
– Leave here immediately!
– Immediately!
– Or I will call security
No, no relatives!
I don’t want to see them
This is a violation!
Il s’agit d’une violation!
Wails
No, No, NO!
Call Murray now!
Call Murray!
***
Smelting sulfide ores
Was almost the sole means
Of producing copper metal
From mined ores
Primary copper production
Copper initially recovered
From the sulfide ores
By directly smelting
The ores in a furnace
The ores in a furnace
***
MADAM DO’S AND DON’TS
She allows
No one to see her
No one
She will only
Talk on the phone
High pitched, refined French
The Copper Heiress
102 years old
You may not call her
You cannot have her number
She only will call you
If she desires to
She turns her head
On the pillow
If she desires to
A poor young cricket small and shy
Passing retir’d his summer hours
Beheld one day a butterfly
Flitting among the flowers
Of ev’ry color, ev’ry hue
If she desires to
Looks at
The antique porcelain doll
Sitting on the chair
By her bed
Poupee de Mode
Lady Fashion
She’s special
Paid $122,000
At auction
For that one
Sighs
For that one
Smiles at
Bisque socket head
Blue glass paperweight eyes
Open mouth
Four gleaming porcelain teeth
Brunette mohair wig
Sighs
Smiles
Bonne nuit ma
Chere douce Chantal
***
A GREAT AMERICAN STORY
There is no vegetation
In Butte, Montana
No trees
Or flowers
Except in the 34 room
Grand Victorian
On a corner
Near the top of the hill
On West Granite Street
The Copper King Mansion
Sunlight
Through colorful stained glass windows
Exquisitely carved
Wooden staircase
Featuring flowers and birds
From all over the world
Ceiling with painted frescos
Parquet floors
62 foot ballroom
But there is no vegetation
In Butte, Montana
Because of the mines
Owned by the Copper King himself
Sherman Grayson Powell
The Copper King
A Great American Story
Son of a farmer
Just the son of a farmer
Little man
With a big head
Of bushy red hair
Long red beard
From Connellsville, Pennsylvania
2nd born of 11 children
3 younger siblings die
Moves with his family
To Iowa
Helps dad on the farm
But convinces him
Once he shows academic promise
To let him study law
Iowa Wesleyan College
I’m destined for more
Than farming
I know I am
More than just working
With my hands
A Great American Story
Makes his way
To Montana
Finds his future
In the gold rush
Dapper as a fashion plate
From his feet
To his glossy hat
And frock coat
Manicured fingers
Not a hair awry
On the bushy red thatch
That covers his head
I’m destined for more
Than farming
By 1869
Age of 30
A banker
And a well to do man
Who seeks his bride
Takes a trip
With his mother
To childhood home
Pennsylvania
Courts former classmate
Beatrice Harding
Honeymoon
Train and stagecoach
Stops in Chicago,
St. Louis
Settles in small town
Deer Lodge, Montana
Founds a bank
Beatrice
Generous hospitality
Sunny sociability
Softens husband’s image
1872
Ventures from Deer Lodge
To Butte
To examine
Shallow quartz mines
Reputed to be worthless
Reputed to be worthless
But Powell has his doubts
He has a feeling
Astute gamble
Buys the claims
To 4 Butte mines
More than just working
With my hands
Not a hair awry
There is no vegetation
In Butte, Montana
But before investing
In expensive equipment
Decides he needs
To learn more
About geology
And science of mining
Leave of absence
From the bank
Moves to New York
Columbia College
Mining School
Show off their wealth
Flaunt
Nouveau rich
Strolling up Fifth Avenue
Newly opened
Metropolitan Museum
At Fifth Avenue and 53rd St.
One day
They will want my possessions
In their collection
You wait and see
New Grand Opera House
Knoedler Gallery exhibition
Purchases many paintings
In the years to come
Scours the world
For art
One day
They will want my possessions
During his studies
At Columbia
He and his professors
Examine mineral samples
From the newly purchased
Butte mines
It can’t be true
Tapped into
Major copper veins
Major copper veins
So I was right
I was right
The Copper King
A Great American Story
Son of a farmer
There is no vegetation
In Butte, Montana
Fumes from the mining operations
Have killed all of the vegetation
In the city
Only 4 trees left
Roasting ores
Give off fumes of sulphur
The smoke
Color of watered milk
Built the first smelter
In Butte
To process ore
Plumes of chemicals
Into the sky
Roasting ore
In open pits
In the words
Of Sherman Grayson Powell himself
I must say
That the ladies
Are fond of the Smoky City
As it is
Sometimes called
Because there is
Just enough arsenic
To give them
A good complexion
And our local physicians
Believe that the smoke
Is disinfectant that destroys
The germs of disease
Not a hair awry
Has three children
Marilyn Powell
Sherman Grayson Powell, Jr.
Anders Powell
Embarks on European sojourn
1876
Moves Beatrice
And the children to Paris
Henry James
John Singer Sargent
Mary Cassett
Buys up art
And antiquities
They will want my possessions
Beatrice and the children
Fluent in French and German
3 years in Paris
2 in Dresden
Avidly collecting art
Renoir, Degas
Returns to America
Beatrice and the children
In a mansion
Garden City, Long Island
While he
Returns to Butte
Supervises construction
Of his mansion
Copper King Mansion
Exquisitely carved
Wooden staircase
Featuring flowers and birds
From all over the world
Ceilings with painted frescos
Dapper as a fashion plate
From his feet
To his glossy hat
And frock coat
I’m destined for more
Than farming
A Great American Story
1889
When Montana
Becomes a state
Makes a bid
To become first senator
He and his rival
Accuse each other
Of bribing
State legislators
In return
For votes
Both mining men
Both own local papers
A battle about
Location of state capital
Helena or Anaconda
Powell victorious
But refuse to seat him
Because of the bribes
I never bought a man
That wasn’t for sale
His youngest son
Anders
Graduates from Yale
1893
Notorious for spending
More money in one year at Yale
Than any other man
Who has ever attended
Rich man’s spoiled son
Gambling
Women
Liquor
Later on
Builds a race track
In California
Buys champion stallion
$125,000
Races it under
Copper colored silk
Father once gave
A shoe shine man
A quarter tip
Complains that
It was nothing
Compared to the $5 tip
Left by his son
Well, that’s all right
You see Anders has a rich daddy
But I haven’t
A Great American Story
Builds more mansions
Eleutherna
Santa Barbara
And the largest
Mansion in Manhattan
Amasses more art
Eventually becomes Senator
Wife Beatrice
Visits Montana
But spends more time
In Garden City, Long Island
And luxurious Navarro apartments
West 58th Street
Goes to Chicago
Columbian Exhibition
400th anniversary
Of Christopher Columbus’
Arrival in America
200 temporary pavilions
The world’s first Ferris wheel
Gardens designed
By Frederick Law Olmstead
Comes home feverish
Typhoid fever
He and Anders
Get on a train to New York
But delayed in Chicago
Too late
Too late
Buries his wife
Woodlawn Cemetery
Bronx
Hires architecture firm
Lord, Hewlitt and Hull
$150,000 family sized
White mausoleum
Fluted ionic columns
Stained glass windows
Beaux Arts bronze door
Designed by student of Rodin
A woman
With long flowing hair
Painted silver
Windswept gown
Head tilted as she
Gazes out at the world
A standing weekly order
Of fresh cut flowers
No matter the season
Fresh cut flowers
A Great American Story
In a chauffeur driven
Newly minted
Rolls Royce
Silver Ghost
Painted aluminum
Silver plated fittings
Open top seven passenger Roi des Belges
By coach builder Barker
Driven through
The smoke of Butte
Manicured fingers
Not a hair awry
The Silver Ghost
Named so
Because of its ghost –like quietness
Hum
Through the plumes of smoke
Of Butte
Hum
Raises his hand
As if to wave
But it is a fist
He has raised his fist
***
Smelting sulfide ores
Was almost the sole means
Of producing copper metal
From mined ores
Copper initially recovered
From the sulfide ores
By directly smelting
The ore in a furnace
Or pit
Smelters were located
Near the mines
To minimize the cost
Of transport
***
WAVE TO MADAM
She allows
No one to see her
No one
She will only
Talk on the phone
High pitched
Refined French
The Copper Heiress
You may not call her
You cannot have her number
When Madam
Lived alone
In 42 room
907 Fifth Avenue apartment
For decades
Would only talk
To her decorators
And house help
From behind a closed door
Or from a note
She left for them
For decades
She allows
No one to see her
Her doll collection
Everywhere
On sofas
Beds, chairs
And piled in boxes
Fascinated by cartoons
The Flinstones
The Jetsons
Rocky and Bullwinkle
Watches for hours
Tries to teach herself
Cartoon animation
Tape cartoons
And then watch slowly
Quick lapse photography
Hundreds of thousands
Of single shot frames
In her apartment
Madam likes
To take care of people
In trouble
People she sees on TV
Or reads about in the paper
Directs her lawyer
To make anonymous charitable gifts
Same sardine lunch
Every day
Purchases 1731 “Kreutzer” violin
Made by the renowned Italian artisan
Antonio Stradivari
Coutre clothes
Jean Patou in Paris
Gold bracelets
With diamonds and rubies
A Van Cleef platinum ring
With multiple emeralds
Doll sized clothing
Maison Christian Dior
Paris
She allows
No one to see her
Walks among her Gilded Age furniture
Rare books
Renoir’s “Young Women Playing Badminton”
Monet’s “Water Lillies”
Takes up photography
Photos from her window
Street scenes below
Central Park
Voracious reader
Constantly orders
New books
Agatha Christie
French art
How- to Animation
Doll collection
Keeps increasing
Theriault’s auction catalogues
Dolls lining the chairs
Bisque socket head
Blue glass paperweight
Inset eyes
Painted features
Open mouth
Rows of
Tiny porcelain teeth
French composition
Wooden
Fully jointed
She will only
Talk on the phone
You cannot have her number
She will only call you
If she desires to
Her niece Agnes Powell Albert
Granddaughter
Of long dead half brother
Sherman Grayson Powell, Jr.
Rare book collector
Founder of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Invites her
To lunch
At the Plaza Hotel
Politely declines
As usual
We’re going to
Stand in front of your building
72nd and Fifth
And wave to you
Wave to you
Becomes yearly ritual
Squinting
Trying to
Catch a glimpse
Of the face
Hidden behind the glass
Hidden
The doorman
Watches them
Crosses the street
To ask them
– Who are you waving to?
Our Aunt Fannie
Who lives in the building
Francine Powell
The doorman chuckles
– The Copper Heiress
– I have worked in this building
– For over a dozen years
– I have never seen her before
– Never seen her before
The Copper Heiress
If she desires to
She sees them
Down on the street
But they
Do not see her
Clutches the curtains
Retreats
To the portraits
That her painting teacher
The renowned Jean Paul Matteau
Rendered of her father
Sherman Grayson Powell
The Copper King himself
And Madam’s mother Sarah
Her mother’s beloved sister Amelia
Madam herself
And several special portraits
Commissioned by Father of Chantal
Based on photographs
One day beheld a butterfly
Flitting among the flowers
Ev’ry color, ev’ry hue
The gaudy insect well might boast
From flower to flower it gaily flew
Alighting where it pleased him most
Examines portrait of Chantal
White lace dress
16
Almost 17
Blue glass sleep eyes
Mischievous smile
Mouth open
Gleaming porcelain teeth
Oh Chantal
Tu es un papillon
***
MEET MURRAY THE LAWYER
Murray Dworkin
In his usual booth
At Ben’s Kosher Deli
38th Street and 7th Avenue
2 blocks from his office
Usual egg salad platter
His phone beeps
It’s his wife Sylvia
Hysterical
There was another bus attack!
Efrat
The town in Israel
Where his daughter Tamara
And granddaughter Adina live
Constant shooting attacks
On outlying section of town
Buses and cars
Traveling to and from
Main highway to Jerusalem
– I assume they’re ok?
This time yes
But they’re getting closer!
They need security Murray!
They need security!
– I’ll see if I can raise money at the Temple
Temple? 1.85 million dollars from the Temple?
Are you joking?
No Murray
You know what to do
– I can’t do that Sylvia
You know what to do
She hangs up
Phone beeps again
His secretary Natalie
Mrs. Powell called
She’s all up in arms
Relative tried to see her
Mita called too
They’re up in arms
Meets Grace Powell Jameson
And her husband Daniel Jameson
In his office
Old gray filing cabinets
Worn leather chairs
Faded carpet
Murray
Paunch belly
Orthodox Jew
President of his temple
In Brooklyn
You know that she
Is my Great Aunt Fannie
– I know who you are Mrs. Jameson
Grabs the arm
Of her chair
How come no one knew
That she’s been living
At that hospital
For twenty years?
– She didn’t want anyone to know
– Those are her wishes
– She craves privacy Mrs. Jameson
– And you upset her
– By just showing up
We’re concerned about her
We’re family
She’s the last of the siblings
Is she sick?
– She was originally
– Admitted with skin cancer
– But then she chose to stay
– Let’s just say she used some persuasion
– To let her stay there
She owns 3 gigantic mansions
Filled with priceless art
– She likes the hospital Mrs. Jameson
– She finds it comforting
– And the mansions are all staffed
– And maintained
– Even though she has not
– Stepped foot in one for decades
– Tell me Mrs. Jameson
– When was the last time you saw her?
– When was the last time you saw her Mrs. Jameson?
When I was a little girl
I saw her with her mother
At the opera
When was the last time
You saw her Mr. Dworkin?
– I’ve never met her
I assume she has a will
***
CHANTAL
Is Daddy
sleeping with her?
Sherman Grayson Powell, Jr.
To Marilyn Powell
About their father
The Copper King
Is he sleeping with her?
I hope not
She’s beneath him
He mentors her
Sarah Bernadin
Local Butte girl
Family French Canadian
At least the father is not a miner
She’s a Catholic
Daddy pays
For her education
Her harp lessons
And for her parents’ house
And her sister’s education
She’s too young
I don’t like it
She wants his money
Our money
Our money
I could be her mother
Anders chimes in
Father is lonely
And he is entitled
To a little happiness
So he buys his happiness
I can respect that
It figures
You’d say that Anders
It figures
You and your race horses
It’s all a day
At the races for you
I could be her mother
At least I’m
Not a divorced woman
Is he sleeping with her?
Sarah Bernadin Powell
39 years younger
Than her husband
Family posed photograph
Sarah seated in front
Floor length dark skirt
Matching jacket
Lacy white blouse
Long hair
Carefully pinned up
Enormous hat
With a feather
On her lap
She is holding a baby
Little Francine
Light blond hair
White lace
Christening dress
Trails several feet to the floor
Her big sister
Chantal
Sitting on a chair
Smiling
Like she’s about
To let you in on a secret
Brunette hair
Flowing to her shoulders
Short white dress
White knee socks
Straw hat
And the Senator
The Copper King himself
Full head of hair
Bushy mustache and beard
Looking dapper
Summer white suit
White shirt and tie
Proud expression
On his face
Protective
Of his new family
Arm around
Chantal
Who is Daddy’s girl
As Francine
Becomes Mommy’s girl
Daddy’s girl
Chantal
Tells darling little sister
Stories at night
Would not finish them
Tease Fannie
The Arabian Knights
The Jungle Book
I want to know what happens Chantal
Sighs
– Tomorrow Fannie
– Tomorrow
The new Queen Mary’s Doll’s House
For each of them
Collection of
Miniature items
That actually work
Running water
Through tiny pipes
A gift to Queen Mary
From the people
Made to scale
One inch to one foot
Replicas of items
In Windsor Castle
Carpets, curtains
And furnishings
All copies of the real thing
Toilets really flush
Miniature toilet paper
– Even dolls have to go Fannie!
– Look, it’s Daddy’s car!
Miniature Rolls Royce
Silver Ghost
– It looks lonely without Daddy
Party for Chantal
In the Butte mansion
Performances by trained dogs
Dancing in the ballroom
Back in Manhattan
The Copper King
Supervises construction
Of his gigantic mansion
It will be the largest residence
In the city of New York
I’ll outdo
Carnegie and Vanderbilt
An enchanted nursery
For his daughters
Hand painted tiles
Illustrating fairy tales
And nursery rhymes
Swimming pool
Dressing rooms
Fitted with carrara glass
Turkish bath
Wine cellars
Safe deposit vaults
80 tons coal storage room
Elevator large enough
For 20 people
White marble staircase
Balustrades of gold and bronze
Four large art galleries
Paintings
Sculptures
Tapestries
Egyptian antiquities
Commissions sculptors
Such as Augustus Saint Gaudens
Paul Bartlett
Bronze decorations
For the house
Third floor
Imports a library
From Normandy Chateau
Carved woodwork
Dating back from 1523
Sarah’s living quarters
Overlook Central Park
Paneled in
White Satinwood
Flower carvings
Boudoir
Of bird’s eye maple
The Senator
Takes the subway in Manhattan
Causes a stir one day
Loses a penny
In chewing gum machine
On 14th Street
Is outraged
I want my penny back!
Speaks to the supervisor
Always in law suits
With his competitors
Must win
At all costs
At all costs
I’m destined for more
Than farming
Sarah and the girls
Live in Paris
Until 927 Fifth Avenue is complete
Copper King Castle
As the press calls it
Avenue Victor Hugo
16th Arrondisesment
Close to the Bois de Boulogne
Speak French
As primary language
Tutored in English
Music room –
Sarah plays harp
Fannie the violin
And Chantal the piano
Fannie with her dolls
Lined up outside
The house in Butte
Queen Mary’s Doll’s House
Chantal chasing Fannie
– You’re so pretty Fannie
– All of the men
– Are going to desire you
– All of the men
– They will love you for your mind
– As well as your heart and beauty
– All of the men
– How can they resist those blue eyes?
– You will marry a prince
You’re the beautiful one Chantal
And I’m not outgoing like you
I wish I were
I wish I were
Move in to Fifth Avenue
Copper King Castle
Shrieks of childish laughter
Be careful of the art!
Be careful of the art!
Forbidden to run around
In the gallery
The Salon Diore
The Copper King
Craves to be recognized
As sophisticated art collector
Scours Europe
For art
The auction houses
Wants the greatest personal collection
In the world
The greatest in the world
Outbids
Fellow robber barons
Outbids
Told he should
Seek art consultants
I don’t need consulting
I consult my own eye
They will want my possessions
Tells reporters
It is his civic duty
To allow the people
To see his masterpieces
Holds big party
In the house
Hundreds of invitations
To all of the best people
In New York
But they don’t show up
Spurn advances
Of aspiring Senator
Just an upstart
From the midwest
A bumpkin
Fool doesn’t realize he owns some forgeries
They will want my possessions
Mark my words
I won’t forget this
I won’t forget this
Violin lessons
With Andre Tousset
Celebrated Parisian violinist
Performs with
New York Chamber Music Society
Portrait of Chantal
By renowned French portrait painter
Pierre Turtous
$20,000 a portrait
Paints King Gustav of Sweden
Calvin Coolidge
Mischievous smile
Holding a large basket of tulips
Dancing school costume
Brown and white skirt
Dark hair meticulously coifed
Legs crossed
Fannie
Short blond hair
Blue eyes
Short sleeve
Frilly white dress
Holding a doll
The Copper King’s
Oldest daughter
Marilyn Powell Jeffries
Twice divorced
Flamboyant parties
Her love life
In the newspapers
Daddy married beneath him
Beneath him
Built that ugly castle for them
What about us?
What about us?
Spendthrift Anders
Splurges on his racehorses
Battles against creditors
Sherman Jr.
Collects rare books
Manuscripts
Works of Oscar Wilde
Classical music concerts
Seen in the company
Of young men
Junior’s Peculiar Preference
His big sister
Keep it zipped Shermie
Keep it zipped
Don’t embarrass the family
Sarah and the girls
Summers
In Santa Barbara
The new mansion
Atop a cliff
Overlooking the Pacific
Father names it
Eleutherna
After an ancient Greek city
And Hawaii
Chantal’s diary:
A walk with Daddy Dear
On Fifth Avenue
We are preparing
A surprise for Mother’s Birthday
Fannie is learning
A piece on the violin
Summers in Maine
Fannie writes
To her father
Yesterday night
Was the most beautiful sunset
The mountains were blue
And the sky
Was a gorgeous pink and purple
The water looked like silver Daddy
Like silver
Soon Chantal will come back
And how glad I will be
To see my dear sister again
I will be glad to see you again
Dear Little Father
And then Chantal
Writes to her father
My dear Father
I am very happy
That you will be here
Next week
I know how to dance
Quite well
And so does Fannie
I am very glad
That you are going to be here
For my birthday
But what Chantal
Does not say
Is that she is not
Feeling well
Local doctor
Spinal Meningitis
Spends day and night
With her
Telegram
To the Copper King
Chantal is extremely ill
He races to Butte station
Next train
East coast
Telegram
From Sarah
Received your very dear message
Our little angel is at rest
Just Monday evening
She was singing all of her scout songs
But she’s been taken from us
Our little angel has been
Taken from us
***
A WALK THROUGH CENTRAL PARK
Private nurse Mita
And Madam’s long time personal assistant
Peter
Take the Madam
For a walk through Central Park
Well, sort of
It all started
When Peter
Would drop by the hospital
To bring items Madam requested
Magazines
Mystery novels
Architecture books
Antique dolls
From her collection
Visits with her
At least half an hour
Entertains her
News from
The outside world
Tape cartoons
For her to photograph
Watches her give
Rudolph instructions
Over the phone
Builds and repairs
Madam’s dollhouses
Does not want
To see him in person
Detailed instructions
Over the phone
The measurements
In the dollhouse
Have to
Just so
Or people
Are going to bump their heads
Rudolph
I can’t have them
Bumping their heads
Doctors concerned
She’s not leaving her bed
Well, she’s 102 years old
She needs to move around
But she doesn’t have the energy
Below 100 pounds
Warm milk
Before bed
Silver haired heiress
Each night
Recites the Lord’s Prayer
Out loud
French, Spanish, English
Speaks in French
To one of her dolls
Papillon
Oh Papillon
She needs to move around
Get her out of bed
Madam refuses to
Madam refuses to
Used to getting her way
Only do what
She wants to do
When she wants to
Madam needs to stand up
Move around
To keep heart active
Prevent muscle atrophy
Must make it happen
Up to Mita
Usually
Very persuasive with Madam
Has an idea
Turns to Madam’s
Long time personal assistant
Peter
Mans his post
At her 2 apartments
907 Fifth Avenue
Madam always
Smiles when 54 year old
Peter shows up at 4 pm
Well groomed
Suit and tie
Speak in French
To each other
His father and his brothers
Originally decorated
Her apartment
Brings his wife
And two daughters
To visit
Madam loves the little ones
Gives them Barbie dolls
And candy
Let’s them look
At the antique dolls
In her room
She adores Peter
Mita has an idea
For a new ritual
With Peter
A walk through
Madam’s beloved Central Park
Asks him to come by
Closer to noon
Madam has more energy
Mita announces
Peter is here
It’s time for a walk
Through Central Park
The park is two miles away
No limo waiting for them
Downstairs
Peter helps her
Out of bed
Holds her frail arm
And they walk
Around the room
3 laps
A walk in the park
Now we’re going to 59th Street
Oh, my father
Used to love 59th Street
My dear sister Chantal
And I would
Gaze into the windows
Of A La Vielle Russie
The had Russian Imperial treasures
Miniature gold and enamel
Faberge sedan chairs
Just had to own
He would let us
Sit in them
And play
With our Flossy Flirt dolls
Did you know that Bergdorf
Was built on the site
Of a palazzo
Owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt’s 2nd widow?
Madam
We’re going to
See the Obelisk
Walks slowly
Standard issued cotton
Hospital gown
Topped with
A blue cashmere cardigan
Complement her eyes
When Daddy was in town
The four of us
Would walk to the Obelisk
We loved marveling at it
Each day
A new walk
Through Central Park
Different landmarks
Maybe we should take
The Bridle Path?
We’re going up
To the Met
I hope you’re not tired
From the walk Madam
Circles the room
Slowly
Smiles
Mon Papillon
Adorait Central Park
Murray Dworkin
Sitting in his booth
At Ben’s Deli
His office
Out of the office
Picking at his egg salad platter
Talking to daughter Tamara
On his cell phone
– Is everything ok? How is Adina?
We’re fine Daddy
But we’re scared
We need to beef up the security
We don’t have the money
– I know that dear
– I am going to raise the money for the town
– I will
How?
– A fundraiser at the Temple
We’re okay Daddy
But we’re scared
We’re scared
After he hangs up
Phone beeps again
His secretary Natalie
A man named Thomas Blake Powell
Called
Said he is the great grandson of
– Yes, I know. Anders Powell,
– Mrs. Powell’s half-brother
Well, he would like to visit
His beloved Aunt Fannie
And on behalf of all of Anders’
Great grandchildren
He would like to
Talk to you
About her will
Phone beeps yet again
Sighs
It’s William Orenstein
Madam’s accountant
You need to have a talk
With our heiress
She’s cutting checks
Left and right
She just bought Mita
Another apartment
This time
Facing Central Park
Mita claims
She never asks
For anything
But she knows
How to work the Madam
She complains
Madam so dependent on her
Works 7 days
87 hour weeks
Back and forth from Brooklyn
Doesn’t see
Her own kids
Bought her
And her husband
Lincoln Navigator Luxury Sedan
We don’t ask Madam
For anything
She gives us
She gives us
Complains about high cost
Of private school
And college for her 3 children
Pays tuition bills
Bought her son a new car
After car crash
Pays for niece’s cancer treatment
We try to fix
My son’s car
But Madam says
It’s unsafe
Better get new car
$21,000 Isuzu
I dedicate my life
To Madam for 14 years
I am in her room
More than I am in my own house
My husband is mother and father
While I am at work with Madam
She never wants me
To take off
Calls me every night
To make sure
I get home safe
I’m entitled
I’m entitled
Writes check for
$874,000
On top of the real estate
Will buy her a country home
But can’t be too far away
I don’t know what I would
Do without you Mita
I need you around me
I need you
And she is the personal ATM
For much of the hospital staff
Thousands and thousands
Of dollars
Of gifts
To the staff, their families
The doctors
The hospital
Thank you Madam
Thank you so much
Don’t thank me
Thank my father
I didn’t earn a dime
In my life
I didn’t earn a dime
They need security Murray
You know what to do
This is money better spent
Than on a silly doll!
A doll!
You’re the only one
Without your hand out
And this is not for us
It’s for our daughter
Murray calls Madam
In her room
– I need to talk to you Mrs. Powell
– I need to talk to you about tax ramifications
She can’t hear very well
What?
– Tax ramifications
– You can’t buy everyone these gifts
– There will be tax consequences
– It will hurt you
I can’t hear you
– And we need to talk about your will
I already have one
– No you do not Mrs. Powell
– You have about 5 versions of it
– All unsigned
What? I can’t hear you Murray
Oh, why don’t you
Just come to the hospital
It’s about time
We met
***
Copper conversion
From the ore to the metal
Is accomplished by smelting
During smelting
The concentrates are dried
And fed into one
Of several different types
Of furnaces
The sulfide minerals
Are partially oxidized
And melted
To yield
A layer of matte
A copper-iron sulfide
And slag
An upper layer of water
***
Jameau Bebe Nr. 9
Bisque socket head
Fully jointed Jameau body
Lovely bulbous brown paperweight eyes
With painted upper
And lower lashes
Thick multi-stroke brows
Closed mouth
Shading and accents
To lips
Pierced ears
Long pink earrings
Blond human hair
White cotton dress
Underwear socks
And pink leather shoes
***
THE DEBUTANTE
February 1925
The Copper King
Contracts a cold
Turns to pneumonia
Sarah, Fannie
Marilyn and Sherman Jr.
Gather at his bedside
Hold vigil
Marilyn just got married
To third husband
Marilyn Powell LeFevre
Dies evening
Of March 2nd
86 years old
The Copper King
Has died
Has died
The contents of his wallet
At death:
A copper penny
Newspaper clippings
Photos of himself
With Sarah
Photo of Chantal
A pistol permit
A ticket to
The Metropolitan Museum
The hymn
Abide With Me
Abide with me
Fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens
Lord with me abide
Butte, Montana
Flies its flags
At half staff
The New York Times:
Senator Powell
Led an exciting life
He won fortune
In western history
Achieved power
In politics
And rose to fame
As an art collector
He was the son
Of a farmer
More than 400 flower arrangements
Sent to Copper King Castle
Orchids
Lilies of the valley
From President Coolidge
I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness
Where’s death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me
His will decrees
That Sarah and Fannie
Must vacate Copper King Castle
Within a few years
House be sold
Along with virtually
All of the possessions
Except for the art
Abide with me
Proceeds divided
Among the 4 children
His estate worth
250 million dollars
Gives Sarah
Bequest of 2.5 million
All of the belongings
Of Paris apartment
Silverware
Rug hangings
Furniture
Gives her Eleutherna
I wanted Eleutherna
I wanted it
Why did he give her so much?
We’re his children
From his first and proper marriage
Protects her collection
Of gold, silver, diamonds, pearls, rubies
Sarah and 3 older children
Are the executors
But Sarah
Promptly resigns
Doesn’t want
Conflict with the children
Knows they don’t like her
Since Francine
Is under 21
Father puts in
Special provisions
An allowance
Until she is 27
The rest of estate
Split with her siblings
Bequeaths to
The Metropolitan Museum
More than 200 paintings
Plus sculptures by Donatello
Canova tapestries
17th century rugs
Grecian and Etruscan antiquities
But the gifts
Come with a catch
Abide with me
The museum must
Accept entire collection
And create
A special Powell wing
To display every piece
Every piece
Or they can’t have
Any of it
Abide with me
Was he joking?
Some of the paintings
Are fakes
We can’t display those
Every piece
Or they can’t have
Any of it
The Met reluctantly forced
To turn it down
Turn it down
They will want my possessions
But they can’t have them
They can’t have them
Marilyn LeFevre
Is outraged
Outraged
How dare they?
Any city in Europe
Would have begged for this collection
It’s that important
Oh calm down Marilyn
Calm down
Don’t you get it?
Daddy knew they’d say no
He didn’t want them to have it
He knew they’d say no
Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
In life, in death, O Lord abide with me
Sarah immediately begins
To look for new home
907 Fifth Avenue
2 blocks away
From Copper King Castle
Francine lies
In her bed at night
The sweats
Can’t sleep
Can’t sleep
Thinks about her father
What she overheard him
Say to her mother
I’m concerned about Fannie
All of these men
Will be courting her
And she who still likes dolls
Won’t know what to do
Once said to her
No one will ever
Love you for yourself
They’ll love you
For your money
Never love you
For who you are
– You’re so pretty Fannie
– All of the men
– Are going to desire you
– All of the men
– They will love you for your mind
– As well as your heart and beauty
– All of the men
– How can they resist those blue eyes?
She falls asleep
Dreams
Of her father
In the Silver Ghost
Hum
Through the plumes of smoke
Hum
Through the plumes of smoke
Bushy beard
Not a hair awry
Raising his fist
December 8, 1926
Francine Powell
The Copper Heiress
One of the most
Desirable debutante
Bobbled wavy hair
To ear length
Pearl necklace
Dark sleeved dress
With a lazy shawl collar
Elegant white gloves
All of the contents
Of Copper King Castle
Are auctioned off
And a wrecking ball
Reduces the castle
To rubble
All gone
Rooms where she played
With Chantal
The music room
The pool where she
Swam laps
Now she lives
With her mother
At 907 Fifth Avenue
Taking painting lessons
With the handsome renowned painter
Jean Paul Matteau
19 years older than her
They talk about art
And life
And books
Paints scenes out of her window
Central Park in winter
The silver lake
Up in Maine
Sunsets
Over the Pacific
Parisian café scenes
He flirts with her
Dark haired
Forest mint
And black musk fragrance
Always paints
In a suit and tie
She wants him
To be interested
He takes her out for dinner
But just as a friend
Not courting her
Meets a suitor
No one will ever
Love you for yourself
Richard James Stockwell
Tall
Handsome
Son of Father’s
Long time accountant
Grew up in Connecticut
But attended Manhattan’s
Elite Trinity School
Member of the track team
And debating society
Works as a young banker
J and W Seligman and Co.
54 Wall Street
Well groomed
High forehead
Meets Francine
At Ritz Carlton roof party
Begins to court her
Attended right schools
Overlapping social circles
Has no money of his own
They’ll love you
For your money
But does not seem
Interested in that
Not a fortune hunter
I think he is interested
In who I really am
Jean Paul asks
About her
– Is he a good catch Fannie?
– I will be so happy for you Fannie
Winks at her
Gleaming teeth
But she doesn’t want
Jean Paul to be happy for her
She wants him to be jealous
But he is not
He is not
More interested in movie stars
Paints their portraits
Dates them left
And right
Sarah is unsure
About Stockwell
But it is announced
The world’s social editors
The Copper King Heiress
Francine Powell
Is engaged to marry
Richard Paul Stockwell
Photos of them
Mugging for the cameras
Cigarettes
Puffing
Laughing
Adoring him
Stockwell
Smug smile
Princeton Graduate
To Marry Copper Heiress
New York Sun
Neither he nor his father
Are listed in the New York Social Register
Photo of Richard
With a bunch of men
Tuxedos
Holding up their drinks
Fannie
Simple well-tailored sleeveless gown
Formal engagement party
Given by one of the descendants
Signer of Declaration of Indepedence
80 guests
Orchestra plays
Someone to Watch Over Me
To my heart he carries the key
Won’t you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me
They’ll love you
For your money
I think I have met
The man of my dreams
Small wedding
Santa Barbara
At Eleutherna
Only members
Of the family present
Sarah
Richard’s parents
Sarah’s sister Amelia
And her husband
White wedding gown
With a veil
And a train
That trails 6 feet
Enormous bouquet
Of flowers
Sarah and Fannie
Agree to give the groom
A large dowry
One million dollar
No one will ever
Love you for yourself
On the wedding night
She is unprepared
It hurts
I don’t like it
I don’t like it
Marriage is never consummated
It’s never consummated
***
AN UNUSUAL HOUSECALL
She allows
No one to see her
No one
She will only
Talk on the phone
High pitched, refined French
The Copper Heiress
102 years old
You may not call her
You cannot have her number
She will only call you
If she desires to
If she desires to
When Madam
Is still living at 907 Fifth Avenue
Refuses to see anyone
Face to face
Refuses to
Other than a housekeeper
Her mother’s former social secretary
Stella
A few maids
Does not want
To look people in the eye
Or allow them
To get physically close
No human contact
Except on the phone
If Madam needs money
Fills out a check
Send Stella out
To cash it
On a foggy day
Looks down on the street
From the window
In her nightgown
Silver hair
A ghost in the mist
The ghost of Fifth Avenue
If Madam want to
Go down from her 12th floor apartment
To her 8th floor apartment
She uses the back stairs
Avoids the elevator
And her neighbors
Carefully organized
Shoe collection
In boxes
Marked with dates
Madam last wore them
Hundreds of boxes
Debutante dancing heels
Shoes she wore
In Jean Paul’s studio
To the Metropolitan Opera
With her mother
Hiking boots
Instructs her lawyer
To bid on dolls
I want the doll
At any price
Millions of dollars
On French antique dolls
Bru baby doll
1878
Blue paperweight eyes
Long painted upper
And lower eyelashes
Long feathered eyebrows
Red accent dots
By the eye corners
And in the nostrils
Open mouth
To insert a baby bottle
Mechanism in back of head
With a key
Used to suck up liquid
When the key turns
$175,000
But he misses the bid
He misses the bid
How could you blow it, Murray?
How could you?
– I’m sorry Mrs. Powell
– I’m sorry
Continues to follow
Current trends
Reads the newspapers
Books
The Kingdom and the Power:
Behind the Scenes at the New York Times
The Flintstones
The Jetsons
Smurfs
If furniture
Has to be reupholstered
Demands same materials
Be used
They must track down
Vintage fixtures and fabrics
The same materials
Just like
When she moved
Into the apartment
Back in the 1920s
Even the light bulbs
Have to be antique
Anything related to Mother
Anything related to Chantal
While Nature does so much for him
For me she does nothing at all
From flower to flower it gaily flew
A lighting where it pleased him most
“Alas!” the pining cricket sigh’d
What differences us two divide
She wants to preserve
Preserve
I want it
Just like Mommy
Et mon Papillon
Repairs
Installing new bathrooms
Have meeting
With the workers
She’s on the other side
Of the door
They cannot see her
On the other side
Just the voice
Quick flash of silver
Even though
She has not been
In the sun
In decades
Madam develops
Skin cancer
Probably from her days
In the sun
Hawaii, Santa Barbara, Maine
Red blotches
Thinks they will go away
But they won’t
They won’t
She is in a panic
Lesion by right eye
Sore by her mouth
Difficult to eat
Begins ordering
Ice cream, buttermilk, bananas
Tells Barbara
Family physician’s widow
And friend
Tells goddaughter
Vanessa
Daughter of the late Jean Paul Matteau
Insists she see a doctor
But Madam refuses
– I’ll get a doctor
– To see you Fannie
Major New York oncologist
An unusual house call
Dr. Peter Schumann
First stranger
In her home
In more than a decade
Materializes
Out of messy room
Lit by single candle
75 pounds
Old soiled bathrobe
Towel wrapped
Around lower face
Transported to hospital
Outside 11th floor window
View of Gracie Mansion
Boats on the East River
But she keeps shades closed
Plastic surgery
To repair her face
Loves the attention
And fuss
Especially after
They all learn who Madam is
Not an ordinary patient
The Copper Heiress
Is among them
Hospital social worker
Speaks to her
About a discharge plan
Return home
Attended to
By private nurses
Or go to long term facility
But Madam will have
None of it
None of it
Not an ordinary patient
You don’t understand
I’m not going anywhere
I’ll make it worth your while
All of you
They’ll love you
For your money
Not an ordinary patient
***
THE WITHDRAWAL
Francine reads
In the social pages
That Richard hooks up
With Constance Warren
Over 20 years his senior
2 of her 3 children
Older than him
Newly divorced
From 3rd husband
If Richard were just
A junior bank clerk
She would not see him
As a desirable suitor
But thanks to
Fannie’s dowry
He’s a wealthy man
Constance is older
But she’s experienced
Offers social entre
Family owns publishing houses
Feeling rejected
Fannie and Sarah
Head west for Santa Barbara
Eleutherna
And Hawaii
Writes to Jean Paul Matteau
You will be disappointed
In your student
Have not painted much
The wonders you would create
If you spent a few months here
On this enchanting island
The color of the water
Is jade, sapphire, mauve
Streets lined
With trees
Garnished with
Bright red flowers
Formal pink, yellow clusters
One night
We saw a moonlight rain shower
Followed by a glorious rainbow
Receives letter from Richard
I have wanted to write you
But have hesitated
It seems impossible
To convey with words
I am very sorry
That the end came
As it did
Files for divorce
In Reno, Nevada
Divorce still a novelty
Paperwork easier there
Arrival in Reno
Creates a stir
Large entourage
Her mother
Her dogs
A chef
A butler
Maid
A chauffeur
For the Silver Ghost
Lease entire floor
Riverside Hotel
Why American’s 50,000,000 Heiress
Cast off her $30 a week Prince Charming
Remains sequestered
With her mother and staff
Until granted a divorce
Within hours
They leave for Eleutherna
Trips to San Francisco
And Hawaii
Photo by Associated Press
Fur coat
Cloche hat
Art Deco diamond bracelet
Has aged
The last public photo
Of Francine Powell
The last photo
Winters in her 12th floor
New York apartment
Summers at Eleutherna
And Hawaii
Painting lessons
With Jean Paul
4 days a week
Painting of
Blue night blooming flower
Half- brother Anders
Big spender
Loves the race tracks
Dies at age 61
Pneumonia
Buried in Father’s mausoleum
With his mother
And Chantal
Disapproved of Father’s marriage
To Sarah
Minimal contact
With them
No contact
With his own children
After divorcing
Their mother
Ties binding the Powells
Deteriorate more
Marilyn divorces again
Stops inviting Fannie and Sarah
To her parties
Manhattan mansion
Long Island waterfront home
Lives 6 blocks south of them
In Manhattan
But hear nothing from them
Sarah feels
Abandoned by step children
They are not good to you Mommy
And you have been nothing
But good to them
Spends time with Jean Paul
Hoping that he will ask her
Ask her
Hours at his studio
Gives Fannie
An artist’s palate
That he crafted for her
Making silly bets
For a dime
Has a jar of her dimes
Starts having
Dollhouses custom built for her
Commissions Parisian toy store
Au Nain Bleu
To arrange construction
Of miniature French chateau
Fixes up Eleutherna
6 large bedrooms
Servants’ quarters
Parquet floors
Marble fireplaces
Gold, green, rose
Antique chandeliers
Crystal and amethyst glass
Plated bathroom fixtures
Shaped of dolphins and swans
Reflecting pool
Orange trees
Painting studio
Bedroom overlooking
Lawns, rose garden
And the Pacific
Dozens of half size
Empire style chairs
To display
Her dolls
Line the chairs
Up against
The walls of the bedroom
Rotate the selection
Except for one
Smiles at
Bisque socket head
Blue glass paperweight eyes
Open mouth
Four gleaming porcelain teeth
Brunette mohair wig
La vue vous
Te plait mon papillon?
But while the cricket thus complained
A sudden uproar round him reign’d
A troop of children rushing by
Come hunting for the butterfly
One day a visitor
Arrives in Jean-Paul’s studio
A young admirer of the artist
Isabelle
21 years old
A model for magazines
High cheek bones
Porcelain skin
Long, flowing blond hair
Isabelle
Fannie can see
That they give each other
One look
And they know
One look
She walks out of the studio
And goes home
And they know
Her half-brother
Sherman Grayson Powell, Jr
Dies
Heart attack
At a fishing camp in Montana
Leaves most of his estate
To a 17 year old boy
A book gets published
About the Powell family
By a former family employee
Excerpts all over the papers
Photos
Passages from letters
The Copper King
Fathering illegitimate children
With Indian women
His son Sherman
A sexual predator
Young boys
Anders
A boozer
Womanizer
Philanthropist
Burning through his riches
Marilyn
A ruthless, stingy social climber
Sarah
An ambitious teenage fortune hunter
Became pregnant
Out of wedlock
Francine might not
Be her daughter
And Francine
Or Fannie as the family calls her
A spoiled child
A virgin with a mother complex
Sarah and Fannie
Already keeping
A low profile
Decide to withdraw
Even further from the world
Puzzles friends and acquaintances
Can’t remember
The last time
They saw them in person
At the opera?
Rumors that they’re germaphobes
Bought up 3 rows of seats
At the opera
So no one could
Sit near them
3 rows of seats
And then nothing
No longer
Visit Eleutherna
Last time
Is 1953
She was 43
Mother was 75
They continue
The upkeep of the estate
Fully staffed
Housekeepers
Groundskeepers
Butlers
Continues to pay dues
At the gold club
For the next 60 years
After Sarah dies
Fannie completely
Withdraws
For good
For good
***
THE WILL
When you see her in person
Ask her Murray
Ask her
The least you can do is ask
– I can’t Sylvia
– I just can’t
For the safety of your daughter
And granddaughter
You will Murray
You must
They need security
They need security
He asks
To be alone with her
Holds her hand
– Mrs. Powell
– You can’t give all of these gifts
– You will get taxed severely
– Giving a painting to a museum
– Is another story
I will give to whom
I want to Murray
You can’t tell me otherwise
– But you’re short on cash Mrs. Powell
I’ll sell the two Sargent paintings
I want half of the money
To go to Mita
– In the last version of your will
– Which you also did not sign
-Mita gets a third of all of your possessions
– And your goddaughter Vanessa gets another third
That sounds right
– Why are you giving millions of dollars
– To a nurse
She’s not a nurse
– She is a nurse
She’s not a nurse to me
She’s my friend
– That is an expensive friend
She says she’ll leave me!
She’ll leave me!
– No she won’t
She will!
I can’t let that happen!
Ca ne peut pas
M’arriver a moi!
She’s like a daughter
The daughter I never had
I can’t let that happen!
– Ok, Ok.
– What about your goddaughter
Vanessa?
– You haven’t seen her in 40 years
She’s a dear
She’s Jean Paul’s daughter
-Well, a problem
– With the most recent version of your will
– Is that you insisted on this clause:
– I intentionally make no provision
– In my Last Will and Testament
-For any members of my family
-Whether on my paternal or maternal side
– Having had minimal contact with them over the years
Yeah, so?
– And then you have another clause
– About your heirs receiving the last third
Yeah, so?
– It doesn’t make legal sense Mrs. Powell
Keep it
That’s the one I’ll sign
Are you happy now?
– No, I’m not Mrs. Powell
– Because it doesn’t make any legal sense
– It will create lots of turmoil in your family
That’s what I’ll sign Murray
End of conversation
I checked off a doll
In that Sotheby’s catalogue
I want it any price
Any price Murray
She’s beauty
I’m tired
I feel weak
Weak
How’s your family?
How’s your daughter and grandchild?
– Well, speaking of my daughter Madam
Later on
While Madam sleeps
She dreams of Chantal
A troop of children rushing by
Came hunting for the butterfly
With nets, and hats, and kerchiefs too
The gaudy insect they pursue
He struggles hard to get away
But falls at last a helpless prey
One seizes on his wings of gold
Another at his body aims,
A third upon his head lays hold
“Ah ha!” the cricket said,” I see
What ‘tis a brilliant thing to be
If such the cost to those who shine
I ought no longer to repine
But to live happy I must be
Contented with obscurity”
Tu etais trop belle, Chantal
Trop belle
Too beautiful
She dreams of her father
The Silver Ghost
Hum
Bushy beard
Not a hair awry
Through the plumes of smoke
Hum
The plumes of smoke
Give way to clouds
Rises
Raises his hand
As if to wave
But it is a fist
He has raised a fist
In the clouds
Heaven’s morning breaks
And earth’s vain shadow flee
In life, in death, O Lord
Abide with me
Abide
—
© Matt Bialer
Matt Bialer is the author of 11 collections of poetry including RADIUS, WING OF LIGHT (Les Editions du Zaporogue), ALREADY HERE, ARK, BLACK POWDER (Black Coffee Press), TELL THEM WHAT I SAW (PS Publishing). BRIDGE, FREQUENCIES (Leaky Boot Press), HE WALKS ON ALL FOUR, KINGS OF MEN (Dynatox Ministries) and ASCENT (Bizarro Pulp Press). His poems have appeared in many print and on- line journals including Retort, Le Zaporogue, Green Mountains Review, Gobbet, Forklift Ohio and H_NGM_N. In addition, Matt is an acclaimed black and white street photographer who has exhibited his work widely. Some of his images are in the permanent collections of The Brooklyn Museum, The Museum of the City of New York and The New York Public Library. A book of his photos entitled MORE THAN YOU KNOW (Les Editions du Zaporogue) was published in 2011. He is also an accomplished watercolor landscape painter with work in many private collections. A book of his paintings SHADOWBROOK (Les Editions du Zaporogue) was published in 2012.
