Winter Ball

by Martha Lucas

Swirls of chiffon and velvet

Rest beneath a crimson tulle veil.

A grand presentation was erected

Upon this solitary stand.

Snow dripped berries

Frozen on ice dipped branches

Are all that remain

Of this lifeless motion.

What waits beyond

The stained and rusted

And mildewed stall?

So subtle is the sublime

haunting us with memories

from another time.

We see that which is unseen,

the debutante fallen from grace,

ready for the Winter Ball.