I was tethered by children, a house
paid for with an inheritance.

I was tethered by Mahoney furniture
provided by someone’ death.

I was held captive to a dream
I wasn’t cut out for, but no

I had just never learned,
what would be needed,

being a girl after all, and not
allowed to take shop classes.

But still, it was my dream,
the warm green scent of it,

earthy, intoxicating.
And there I was tethered

to a home I had bought
and paid for.

Even as a man’s wild demons
raged and I was desperate to leave.