Les Parapluies (Poetry)

Beneath dark turtle shells of plain ribbed silk
the shoppers go about their casual ways
unhurried as a shower drizzles down
to dampen skirts and blend soft blues and greys.

Negotiating puddles, weaving through
the sprouting of umbrellas looming high
a woman with a basket on her arm
lifts gracefully her hem and steps on by

as though she barely feels the rain’s cool kiss
upon her cheek or pearling in her hair
she stares out of the picture with a faint
insouciant and disconnected air.

The crowd behind are keen on keeping dry
while she ignores the bluster blowing wet
and braves the street unshielded, come what may
her mind made up, heart resolutely set.

Her errand and its outcome can’t be known
her gaze is caught unfocused as the rain
patters on umbrellas, edge to edge
and falling through the moment’s subtle frame.