9. Memorable Characters

The Reaper: "Any character is potentially memorable. One might tell us something about ourselves we did not know (or own up to) before we met him or her. But our fascination with character is also a desire to connect with someone who is not ourselves, not even like us, as far as we can tell. Obviously, we have always read stories in order to find out what happens to others and to see how they act and why."

Calvin is a name I've been using in poems now for too many years. On the other hand, the ferryman is a character I've toyed with for maybe five. I thought it was time to figure out his history. Bringing the two together as the same character just seemed natural. (As for his French nom de guerre, Jules Chauvin, well that was just hard work.) But Jack just showed up and won the audition. Poor Anne, we hardly knew you.

And so, live from Hollywood, it's time for the concluding episode (quatrains 25 & 26) of "Jules Chauvin, Ferryman in Exile."

While inside, Jack and Calvin downed their cups
of whiskey mulling over eminent
domain and Noah’s apple orchard placed
to sell. The window facing east was lit

with gritty hints of daylight. Jack arose,
raising his spirits high. “A toast,” he aimed
—they sight the river and the woods combined—
“it’s outside time you set these traps behind.”

THE END