Green Poem by robert dickerson

Clean, adorable new green
illumined the transfigured hill
The world beyond the windowpane
was preternaturally still;
Inside, an ancient doyenne in a chair
studied her pleated image in a mirror
or looked away-her eyes were sad and mellow-
her snowy hair without a hint of yellow

Soon to be twisted into braid
and hidden in the pliant snood
had fallen down. A pretty maid
wielding combs, behind her stood;
'It's true', she ceded. 'Alfie turned my head.
But he's a child-not to be taken serious.
Darius is now my love, instead.
Happiness would be complete with Darius.

The awful boy loves Tullia, though-
Oh, goody, I am seventeen-
How long must mortals bear the pains
of Love I am subjected to'?
The old one sighed, the open window drew
her gaze from staring at its own reflection-
At length she murmured, not without affection,
'I wish I knew, my dear, I wish I knew'.