1Vices Well, she supposed she could always start drinking. That would quiet her mind. Or at least make it slur its words." An uneasily perceptive woman decides to become a writer.

3 My Last Protagonist It was quite the coincidence that Julia Laughlin was reading the obituaries that morning; otherwise, she may have never known.

2 Hell Hath No Fury Never wrong a poet... Never wrong a painter either.

Extended Metaphor Dreams are middle-aged women in yoga class.

The poet discards her eloquence Never again will she make that mistake, now that she's a serious writer.

1Pain A dying man struggles with his attraction to his doctor, for whom pain is not merely a blurry illustration in a medical textbook.

You're Happy You're happy and you don't know it. They clap their hands.

2 Pandora's Jewelry Box Pandora opened the box, but damned if she cared. For Hope was a beautiful bracelet for her to wear.

Misery loves company This is how wars start. This is how knees are skinned and feelings are hurt.

All men are made equal Or else.