LADY IN RED

By Tammi Williams

Art © Natalie Shau

She was sitting on a bench
Early afternoon
One walking by could smell
The sweet scent of her perfume

What piqued my interest?
Was her mask and hat
So unique, so different,
A wonderful sight to look at
I could barely see her eyes
Through the narrow slits
Ignoring the stares and
Obscure comments

What a sight she made
Sitting on that bench
Hands around a necklace
Tightly clenched
Her red dress
That hung to her knees
Softly billowing
In the cool light breeze
Her long black hair flowed around her face
Acting as a shield
Belying her stature and grace

She looks around
As if searching for someone
No one comes, eyes now cast down
The only answers she can tell
Voices carrying through the wind
Wishing her farewell

Thinking about what might have been
Thoughts and feelings
Now held within
_____________

Tammi Williams is a new and upcoming writer and is currently working on a book of poems. She resides in Las Vegas with her family. — ZO goes through a process when picking the theme and artwork for the Expo and this Natalie Shau painting was one of the 2 other pieces we considered. Although she had not seen it, we thought Tammi kind of channeled it . . .