Our Lady of the Flowers (38 page)

I have read moving letters, full of wonderful touches, of despair, of hopes, of songs; and others more severe. I
am choosing from among them one which will be the letter Darling wrote to Divine from prison:

“Dearest,

I'm writing a few lines to give you the news, which isn't good. I've been arrested for stealing. So try to get a lawyer to handle my case. Arrange to pay him. And also arrange to send me a money order, because you know how lousy things are here. Also try to get permission to come and see me and bring me some linens. Put in the blue and white silk pajamas. And some undershirts. Dearest, I'm awfully sorry about what's happened to me. Let's face it, I'm plain unlucky. So I'm counting on you to help me out. I only wish I could have you in my arms so I could hold you and squeeze you tight. Remember the things we used to do together. Try to recognize the dotted lines. And kiss it. A thousand big kisses, sweetheart, from

Your Darling.”

The dotted line that Darling refers to is the outline of his prick. I once saw a pimp who had a hard-on while writing to his girl place his heavy cock on the paper and trace its contours. I would like that line to portray Darling.

Fresnes Prison, 1942

¹
These are not Pope's exact words, but a translation of the author's misquotation, from memory, of a French version. (Translator's note.)

¹
The sense of this passage turns on the word
spirituel,
which has the double meaning of spiritual and witty. (Translator's note.)