I was there

I was there, unseen, behind the camera, and

Everyone looked at me, the women with ideas

churning in their minds, schemes that only women know

how to knit

and he, the tall one in the orange T-shirt, calmly

awaiting his meal, blissfully unaware, as I was that day

the shadows were invisible.

and here, the men, simply scanning the offerings,

the prices, negotiating for their clients, their

needs - to eat.  

they are working, or pretending to.

I am not in the photo, I am unseen, I watch

The air is clear, the wind slight.

sandals at an event

I looked so elegant,  my ankles slender

standing tall, my dress swishing against my calves.

it was a wedding, I recall, my brother and his wife,

my hair was brown and shiny in the sun,

the guests delicately put champagne flutes to their lips

when the minister proclaimed them man and wife.

he wanted to be married, he told me, the wedding

was a necessary annoyance.

I'm glad for annoyances such as these,

a chance to be beautiful, to sparkle 

in the sun.