Aubade

In your leopard-skin silk pajamas
(with the scarlet piping at the sleeves
& lapels), you waved goodbye

from our balcony at dawn—
a sudden, extravagant gesture, regal,
both arms high, love triumphant,

& released from the sidewalk magnolia
a scattering of doves neither of us
knew was there. They fluttered, jubilant,

whistling at the light from your face,
which they took
to be the sun.

Copyright © 2004 Richard Beban All rights reserved
from What the Heart Weighs
Red Hen Press
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission