EPIGRAPH

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AT CHILDHOOD'S END, THE HOUSES PETERED OUT
     INTO PLAYING FIELDS, THE FACTORY, ALLOTMENTS
     KEPT, LIKE MISTRESSES, BY KNEELING MARRIED MEN,
     THE SILENT RAILWAY LINE, THE HERMIT'S CARAVAN,
     TILL YOU CAME AT LAST TO THE EDGE OF THE WOODS.
     IT WAS THERE THAT I FIRST CLAPPED EYES ON THE WOLF.

HE STOOD IN A CLEARING, READING HIS VERSE OUT LOUD
     IN HIS WOLFY DRAWL, A PAPERBACK IN HIS HAIRY PAW,
     RED WINE STAINING HIS BEARDED JAW. WHAT BIG EARS
     HE HAD! WHAT BIG EYES HE HAD! WHAT TEETH!
     IN THE INTERVAL, I MADE QUITE SURE HE SPOTTED ME,
     SWEET SIXTEEN, NEVER BEEN, BABE, WAIF, AND BOUGHT ME A DRINK...




— LITTLE RED CAP; CAROL ANN DUFFY, 1999

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