On the ferry to the Stockholm Archipelago, Gunill

Wexler, Philip

English

SWOSU Digital Commons (Southwestern Oklahoma State University)

Volume 34Issue 2 Winter Article 1412-15-2018Looking as They ShouldPhilip WexlerAbstractOn the ferry to the Stockholm Archipelago, GunillaFollow this and additional works at: https://dc.swosu.edu/westviewPart of the Fiction Commons, Nonfiction Commons, Photography Commons, and the PoetryCommonsThis Poetry is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals atSWOSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Westviewby an authorized administrator of SWOSU Digital Commons. For moreinformation, please contact phillip.fitzsimmons@swosu.edu.Recommended CitationWexler, Philip (2018) "Looking as They Should," Westview: Vol. 34 : Iss. 2 , Article 14.Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/westview/vol34/iss2/1437WestvieW36Looking as They Shouldby Philip WexlerOn the ferry to the Stockholm Archipelago,Gunilla, no child herself, told me her husbandwas eighty. They’d weathered other marriagesand were newlyweds. He opened the doorbefore she could turn the key. He was expectingme. “I’m eighty, you know, can you believe it?”I didn’t have to feign astonishment.  He led usto the patio in back, where he set down on a traythe frosty bottle of Aquavit and three tumblers.“You know,” he said, pointing a shaky fingerat the sunset, the water, and the closest island,“When I was young...notice I did not say younger...I would look out at the water, a different water,and dream of Swedish girls.” We all laughed,but not in disbelief. He stroked his bushy beard,a touch of black still on the chin. “It’s true,you know,” he added soberly. “And I of Swedish boys,” remarked Gunilla with an impish smile.“I’m well aware,” he said. “Yes, Anders, I knowyou are, but I said it for the benefit of our visitor.”37volume 34, number 236Looking as They ShouldWexler“So you did.  Now why don’t we offer him a seat?”They insisted I take the solitary chair. They’d grabtwo more presently. We toasted to the sunset. They stood hand in hand looking as they should.

Looking as They Should

https://dc.swosu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3677&amp;context=westview

Looking as They Should

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