A Veiled Black Lace Hat

Clare's hands were clasped upon her lap,
upon her crown, a veiled black lace hat.
A shattered calm she wore;
that took on strength
self-steadied after several drinks

If one dared look closer, to penetrate -
then one would see through the black veil's lace,
and reveal a woman, blank of face,
that long ago had left this place.

Clasped hands 
on which shine a
diamond ring
lustre lost, 
as do those things
that shine, then dull.
A lover's token 
which she pushed and pulled.

Parades of people floated past
condolences said and sent
as people slowly came and went.

Clare remained
with hands still clasped upon her lap
diamond dully staring back.

All had gone, as had he,
as Clare fell to her knees
face pale and pasty white
searching for that brilliant light
that never came. 

Clare stumbled out into the night
guided by vodka and
lace veiled sight

alone again; Clare cried insane
until a large sum of money came
as did twice before
when on her finger
shone a diamond ring -
lustre lost - as do those things
that shine, then dull
that push, then pull

In her closet, near the back
waits a favorite
veiled black lace hat
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012

Poem

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Deschler Avatar
May 29, 2014 at 1:29 AM
This is another great poem from you, Regina. I love the way that you tell the story. You have a wonderful talent for writing!.... I don't critique poems too often, but for me the 3rd and 8th stanzas were a bit too long. They seemed to slow down the smooth flow of the words. (But, it's all just my opinion!)
Branham Avatar
May 29, 2014 at 1:38 PM
Thanks for your honesty. - on those two stanzas what I was trying to inject was a visual for the reader of a woman sitting in a church pew who is drunk enough to contemplate killing her spouse for money and as she sits she is pushing and pulling in a nervous manner(as she did her marriage) and the reflection she can't hide from. The word order could be played with - then I'm afraid I'll screw the whole thing up. It is hard for me to edit story type poems
Gibson Avatar
May 1, 2014 at 6:11 PM
This is great!! Enjoyed it very much.
Branham Avatar
May 29, 2014 at 1:42 PM
Thanks, different kind of poem. I think I was watching a crime show about women who killed their spouses for money. That's what I came up with.
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