Beatrice by Chere le Page

a small white face
thick brown hair
uncut for twenty years
eighteen inch
cinched waist
pearls on cashmere
feet laced
into leather boots

she spins
threads of colour
sews sequins
onto faded gowns
tucks and pins
pleats
and ruffles organza
onto washed linen

at night
she conjures
love aromas
bakes cakes
sweet white buns
condiments and preserves
cold tongue pate
ripe plum jelly
dried apples
and raspberry jam

she ignores desires
entangled in her head
and neatly packs
neatly stacks
her hampers
to give
to the hurting poor

© Chere le Page