To Alice at The Waverly Hills Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Louisville, Kentucky

Postcard #4

to be X-rayed

for tuberculosis you must stand

in third position croisé in which you face

a front corner with your legs crossed

this is insisted upon by especially cruel doctors

to be X-rayed for tuberculosis

lift one arm at a time

if you have only one arm you will never be a ballerina

the same is true for self examination

of the breasts for women without nipples

as shown in pamphlets available

at your doctor's office

Postcard #5

if you have large breasts you will never be a ballerina

if you wear a short leather skirt you might be raped

and questioned for hours by the police after

never wear a tutu or a cancan petticoat

for rape examinations

Postcard #6

buy one chair

a slick new chair clean and modern

and olive oil in a long necked bottle

a standard way to stop being lonely

do not be alarmed at two moons

or giant jellyfish or the large cart

tumbling toward your feet

you could spend the rest of your life

figuring it out but you're running out of time

Postcard #7

in a rond de jambe en dedans move your leg

in a half-circle from the back toward the front

repeat this until your muscles snap

and you plop to the floor

you will never be a ballerina if you cannot sustain

intense pain and humiliation in front of a mirror

Postcard #8

if you are sallow skinned never wear

a yellow sundress with white polka dots

if you are large breasted never wear

a yellow sundress with white polka dots

if you have tuberculosis cough daintily

into a handkerchief

you will never be a ballerina

if you have tuberculosis

Postcard #9

if your head is bleeding due to an injury

from rape purple is an acceptable color

tweeze the crackles with a needle-nose pliers

drink plenty of buttermilk unless the pull date

is one month behind and the carton's sides

bulge buttermilk soothes the stomach

you will never be a ballerina if your head is bleeding

do not wear pink tulle a tutu or pointe shoes

always carry a handkerchief

Postcard #10

draw a bath

allow your cat to rest his front paws

on your lifted leg as he drinks study his pink tongue

his fur moist with steam his sleek nose

water-beaded whiskers

massage his shoulder with the knuckles of your

right hand if you have a persistent cough

steam will ease your lungs

if blood is present see a doctor