FOR THE WILLIAMS I NEVER MET

06 04 02 - 09 21 11

I.

Invisible the bringer
of the chill to the breeze
that came so shyly this morning
persuading the off-day pilgrims
of casual dressing
to leave their coats at home
and lay down the tone
for the working class on
lunch break clad
in black then white
then black again

What manner of mischief
brought the ruffle of anarchy
to the duck pond decorum
flipping them like frustrated pancakes
in human-clad strife
turning them against each other
in the ways of animals
wilder than they
in an environment provided
by a caring higher league

Conceivably
could it be this trifle of water
silent and stolid and green as
liquid wilderness
mocking the impermeable
roof bridge of oak
it seems to envy
like a babysitter's age within reach

Could it be conceivably
the day of the week
in sly understanding cahoots
with jovial yesterday

II.

Today's male shades
were yesterday's colours
in the pair of wedding parties
thrown beneath opposing ivy arches

Those men today
may be disrobed
in faraway privacies
shivering in nudity and
shuddering in anger
at having lost the colour
they were told belonged
exclusively to them