Woman In a Victorian Dress

Amid a shallow attic lit I picked it up From off of dusty table top, looked With great intensity Jaw dropped and staring Unearthing a discovered curiosity In an eighteen twenty two of past Captured she was In this black of white Faded ancient photograph On further inspection, my vitals lapsed To a background uncanny sight as this Of once abandoned but, never quite forgotten Woman who's now been unveiled Almost elegant in a then modern day Victorian dress Her parasol, but a bigger crown Than the hat atop mounds of braided tress Set the air on hopes evidence to her notoriety Beneath those shades and shadows was my auntie Bess Greatest of the greats, long ago lost Was my mother's mother's sister a relative that now seemed less distant With old wives tales told more and more Of a woman ahead of her time Always remembered with a pair of Levi pants she wore The years had kept her legend But, now in this here likely present She again, will take her place With a pride from out of frame and glass A woman wild in her ways Her found smile as treasure upon display Auntie Bess fills an once empty space In the heart familiar And upon the family fireplace Bound up in a gown on mantle's home Next to all her kin of past Hiding in a crowded family portrait Seen wearing a Victorian dress at last