the alpha, omega, and mid-summer illusion

the alpha, omega, and mid-summer illusion 

she lights the room with her smile,
well-practiced over decades,
a gracious nod, a coy wink, she is
masterful in the art of ladylike-ness,
her voice like silk, never veering 
from script, lilt of laughter strategically 
slicing through the din of conversation,
charming, ever charming, polite, nice
exuding familiarity, sensuality, chastity…
she’s an illusion, perfection in red lipstick,
powdered porcelain skin, sculpted by shape wear
suffocated by the tyranny of oppressive opinion 
maintaining the status quo
keeping the peace

once upon a time she was fierce, 
a wild child, smart, inquisitive, intuitive,
magical, a budding creator creature
connected to Gaia, calloused feet
muddied from stream-tripping, 
and forging untraveled paths
she hasn’t forgotten the girl
but secretly she loathes her, 
deceived by the lies repeated to her
by those she trusted most

years from now
when the porcelain cracks like an eggshell, 
she’ll emerge, granted by the fates 
the gifts of age and wisdom as she sheds
the chrysalis that has held her through
life’s tempestuous seasons to emerge 
fresh-faced, etched by sorrow and joy
body softened, tracked by stretch marks,
age spots, her once glorious golden locks
salted gray, brittle-thin, 
oh how she will emerge magnificent 
boisterous, full-throated, opinionated
having found her voice…her truth
at long last

the girl will remember spring, come winter
you may find her barefoot, tripping streams, 
revisiting paths forged in youth,
where she’ll dance with the fairies, 
finally free 
count yourself blessed if you glimpse her
take care to listen to her song, 
however brief, 
like a lullaby in the darkness
holding us until dawn…alpha and omega
with a smattering of lunacy in the in-between
a life full lived, a force of nature
silenced when Gaia calls her home 

~kat