nabokov, whose working title for lolita was "kingdom by the sea", coined the term nymphet (though clearly gave voice, not birth to the desire) which is now found in dictionaries.

nymphets, or nearly so, or not at all: lolita. pretty baby. paper moon. baby doll. virgin suicides. cement garden. gigi. breakfast at tiffany's. ada, or ardor. romeo and juliet.

today, in the year 1849, "annabel lee" was published 2 days after the death of edgar allan poe. when i drove across the verazzano bridge one week ago to return to my ancestral home i had on the seat beside me a photocopy of the very first, and only poem, i ever learned by heart. so i drove across this water, my windows down, my music swirling, and out she flew, annabel lee to the sea, the child bride drowned.

there is a hole where my starfish mobile used to swing.