Portrait of a Lady

A spray of creamy bloom against her gown Of softest black as deep as midnight skies. It drew my glance as beauty ever does, And then I saw the radiance of her eyes.

Courage lay there; understanding, peace As of a brook that danced into release And came at last to rest, content to be A center from which flowed serenity And strength; the will to be and do. I thought how much alike they were—they two, She and the spray she wore with so much grace— Reflecting there, the sweetness of her face!