The Young Housewife

At ten AM the young housewife
moves about in negligee behind
the wooden walls of her husband's house.
I pass solitary in my car.

Then again she comes to the curb
to call the ice-man, fish-man, and stands
shy, uncorseted, tucking in
stray ends of hair, and i compare her
to a fallen leaf.

The noiseless wheels of my car
rush with a crackling sound over
dried leaves as i bow and pass smiling.

William Carlos Williams