Riehlife Poem-of-the-Day: “Clara’s Air,” by Arletta Dawdy

Arletta Dawdy and I both belong to Women Writing the West. We became writing friends when we both lived in Northern California.

My flash fiction piece “Triptych: Jeweled Bones” (in 3 parts) inspired her to write “Clara’s Air.” She sat down before bed and dashed off the story of Clara’s Air which captures an era, a people, a journey.

“I had almost nothing to do with what came about when that little slave girl stole into my room late that night and insisted that I tell her story. It was intense, rare and charmed,” says Arletta.

I’m happy to present Arletta’s poem in three parts on Riehlife. –JGR

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Clara’s Air, Part 1

Clara’s Air, Part 2

Clara’s Air, Part 3