TITLE: A HAT WITH FLOWERS

PRICE: €300

SIZE: 14" X 10"

ACRYLIC ON DEEP

CANVAS WITH BLACK EDGE

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A HAT WITH FLOWERS

She had a wardrobe full

of grey clothes,

skirts and jumpers

dresses and coats,

with just the odd

black outfit for funerals.

Every time she went to town

she passed boutiques

and market stalls

full of wonderful garments

bursting with colour,

pink and yellow and blue.

She nearly bought one

a dozen times

but every time she baulked,

a whole skirt of brightness

a step too far for her

to make, just yet.

The old conditioned voice

still whispered no

you can't wear that,

you're too old, too grey,

don't be standing out

what will the neighbours say.

Instead she bought a hat.

A grey hat of course,

but with flowers round the band

of pink and yellow and blue.

The voice inside her head

tutted slightly, but let it pass.

Somehow, flowers were

acceptable and meant to be

full of colour and joy,

and people like her weren't.

But when she wore her hat

she found inside, she glowed

with a hundred different colours,

of everything she could have been

and for the first time ever

the grey voice faded just a little,

and she contemplated

who she still could be, yet.

©Roisin Duffy