A Gala Event

Carefully selected gown
tidy package
neatly pressed
worries of the week wrapped
in bright red bow of excitement
red lips
sticking to the agenda
smile for the camera
words pressed neatly, just so

Elegant strong silk
strides confidently
a sleek silhouette moving with purpose
purposeful step into the spotlight
indifferent to toes stepped on
as purpose is sought

Plain nubby shantung
transformed to artsy
with cloche hat nipped and tucked
in all the right places
dramatic haircut stands out,
stands to the side
watching events unfold

Delicate fine lace
compliments cool porcelain skin
petite nymph
glides through crowd untouched
touching no one
faint icy mist
in her wake

Gracefully draped charmeuse
enchantress holds court over rapt audience
soft, glowing lustre
belies cougar instinct
watching carefully
selecting her prey with great precision

Heavy rich brocade
exemplifies exquisite carriage
lines of experience and wisdom
bring subtle turn of heads

Stiff watermark moire
unwilling to budge
crushed velvet right at home
glimmering in the crowd
adding texture to the scene

Layers

Dark morning
single star wavering
alone in sky

no sunrise promise on horizon

Dark buildings
stand impassive
skeleton towers
waiting to come to life

Dark absorbs thoughts
hides goals
hides dreams
Self walks away
layers peel off
another
then another
onion skin transparencies

Strong urge to chase after them
bring back these diaphanous apparitions
but curiosity wins
need to know meaning of layers
these beautifully fragile layers

Sky remains dark
single star blinks
layers have gone
mystery remains

Inside dark building
shower stings
water beads pelt
raw form
no promise of sunrise
on horizon

Chill

An icy road gleams beneath tentative suede covered feet
It dares movement with its glint and shine

One soft wool lined boot slowly slides forward
While its mate tries valiantly to remain rooted where it is
Unwilling
Or unable
To trust the pathway

Black rubber soles search for purchase
To no avail
Buttock pads join vertical boot soles
Stiff, dark sentries snapped to attention

Cold seeps through layers
of wool
of denim
of flesh
Glacial chill settles like hoary frost
Each layer a fragile mass
Delicate, rigid
Easily shattered by a wrong move

Amethyst Whirlwind

A brief meeting
left me sad
a wistful cloud
following a flurry of activity

She arrived unexpectedly
colorful
purple
vibrant
and chatted rapidly
fidgeting
unable to stand still
not a moment of silence
Her arms moved like a captured bird
fluttering
floundering
feathers ruffled

She had grown beautiful
since our last encounter
I wanted to speak
soundless words
left my lips
stampeded by her staccato speech
trampled

As quickly as she arrived
she disappeared
a rush of good byes
no meeting of the eyes
out the door
an amethyst whirlwind departure

I wanted to laugh
to cry
to retain some of the dynamic energy
but the moment passed
I remained
deflated
the buoyancy of the encounter
drifting away
with the closing of the door

Photograph

A photograph
tattered and torn
like the edges of our emotions
raw
frayed
quivers in my trembling hands

A moment captured
caught off guard
a hunted animal
suspicious eyes stare back
undercurrent of distrust
seized by the camera

I look at your wary eyes
look for a sign of forewarning
a sign the storm may be abating

I look in your deep blue eyes
bottomless depths of complexity
Swirling thoughts eddy
a sob escapes
as I fall into a vortex of unnamed feelings

Surfacing, I look into your steel blue eyes
resolve weakening
I have received a sign
but I no longer remember its importance

I am skeptical
mistrust has found a home
in my heart too

Another pair of doubtful eyes
to be snared by a camera