Standing Ovations

Toasting mallows
over graying ashes
of fir and maple twigs
that spit and sputter
discontentment

penchant for the
sweet rather than sour
nacreous calibre
familiar to the taste of pain,
too stubborn to swallow defeat

she dances with ribbons of fire
designing her own destiny
lessons to live by in the play of life
Her strength,
worth a thousand...

Standing Ovations