Brief Interlude At Lucky's Market Poem by Ernie Lowe

I followed her across the
not-so-super market
entranced by the tapestry
of her vintage ensemble.

She wore a long cape
a Victorian extravaganza of embroidery
studded with iridescent beads.
Under the cape, a silky paisley dress,
soft leather ballerina slippers on her feet.
She carried her groceries on her shoulder
in a woven African bag.

I caught up with her at the check-out stand
touched her arm
and she turned to me a face
at least as old as mine,
deeply wrinkled, carefully painted
with thick pancake
as though for the stage.

"I just wanted to say, " I said,
"you are a walking work of art."

Looking me up and down she smiled
taking in my layers of tropical silk shirts
my camel-colored drawstring pants
my Panama with its twisted brim.
In a husky whiskey voice she said,
"One could say the same about you,
my dear."

February 19,2014