The Colors of Velvet
Sarah Henry
Olive green of my first formal evening dress.
Gold of my aunt’s parlor sofa
where there isn’t one comfortable
seat in the whole place.
Green pants of a fleeing lover--
see how they all run!
Navy-colored jacket of the lawyer
who drew up
my final testament.
Black jacket I wore
while smoking Black Russians
with their fancy gold filters
as they slowly extinguished me.
Long, cobalt cape of the judge’s wife
who attended my viewing
looking wonderful and brave
considering the circumstances.