By Terri Watrous Berry

We were a balloon bouquet, just
barely blown-up in our youthful
hues—your sunshine yellow, my
pie-in-the-sky blue, her cherry
red and cheerful lust for life.

Winds of change changed nothing,
not for awhile, not marriages
motherhood or miles so we took us
for granted, like air or like sunshine,
both noticed most when they are gone.

For life sent your saffron self into
hiding, and turned her rosiness
to scarlet rage. Me? I gaze at azure
skies and watch balloons fly,
vacillate between indigo and slate.

About the Author

Terri Watrous Berry is a Michigan septuagenarian whose work has appeared in anthologies and journals over the past four decades. This fall her poetry is included in Waco Cultural Arts Fest's WordFest Anthology 2023, Wild Librarian Press's Wild Crone Wisdom, Ms. Aligned's Coming of Age anthology, Gyroscope Review's Fall Edition 2023, and The Devil's Party Dress's Instant Noodles.