Portrait of a Lady
PORTRAIT OF A LADY
iceberg met Titanic
the day she was born
brightly-colored wings of steel
adorn no fragile butterfly
*
raised in the deep South
the essence of a lady
unfaded by years
of summer sun
*
eyes brown and warm
as flowing bayou water
caressing the banks
moving inexorably on
*
delicate hands
blue-veined on white
gentle fingers
flit to adjust silver widow’s peak
*
waltzing
with Dad in perfect synch
skirt billowing
whirling wings
*
velvet covered voice
with inflexible core
quick to comfort
quicker still to laugh
*
tragic metamorphosis
butterfly into cocoon
*
Dozing off
mouth agape
unladylike snore
droning
*
puzzling chores
frying eggs
toasting bread
brushing hair
no longer automatic
*
rambling speech
vague protestations
wasting body
drooping posture
shuffling gait
vacant stare
*
agonizing denouement
unspinning the life
unraveling the tapestry
so richly colored
*
cruel fate
to steal the mind
and leave the soul
*** END ***
(c) 9/3/99 Pat Hornsby Crochet