it wasn’t the way
light slanted
through stained glass
it wasn’t the rose
carved headboard or
missing linen
it wasn’t tinsel
half-moon garlands
or glittered bulbs
it was the ruby
pin in the hat box
its clasp broken
and how it missed
three pearls
Copyright © 2001 Dorothy Doyle Mienko • Selection from The 2River View, Winter 2001 • All rights reserved.