a critic found that
the world of my novels is disconsolate
with excessive angst and depth
darkness of tones
hard to digest

I wake up at seven every morning
on a diet for the last eighteen years
an entire decade of restrictive long-term relationships
six merciless years of marriage
a working and studying mother
does not drink or smoke
has never tried narcotics
has never traveled on vacation
has never, ever let herself go
or acted without thinking
two little children
two dead parents
an entire life in debt to the bank

so it is