Deborah Beach Giordano
© December 9, 2011
Paused in flight,
dripping pearls,
clad in velvet finery
and ostrich feathers,
disheveled,
skin too white
eyes too bright;
ribbons streaming
from unkept hair
of a garish orange
that would embarrass
a parrot.
A half-wild harridan
invading
an elegant parlor -
the crazy aunt
escaped from the attic
encountering
the genteel artist
awaiting
the appearance
of the delicate
and celebrated
lady of the house.
Free
from the confines
of social convention
and family censure
for an instant;
the nameless woman
claims our attention,
challenging our prejudices
of who belongs here
and who
does not.
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