The Legal Assistant

A Poem by Marshall

She was smart and as clever as the piles of documents
she worked behind
cutting through the paperwork like a tornado
insistent, hissing and answering the phone
even before the second ring
how she did that was beyond me.

A million facts later
court cases. dates of judgement
clent's names, dates of birth
the moles each one had
tax history
mistress mystery
golf mastery
domestic violence history
everything. everything

skirts tight, a round behind
wiggling to wobbly eyes
she controlled the office
better than a judge with a gavel.

I was terrified of every move.
splendid woman.