That five-story billboard of Corona cerveza
on the face of eight-story hotel Festival Plaza—
is cheesy to the point of charming—most days.
Tonight, it’s enchanting.  Curbside, she’s disembarked
from her carriage cocoon, a long limousine,
discarded.  A flutter of balloon-skirted girls,
all their dresses snowy white, circle, as if
she’s the rose queen of a singular garden.
Shoulders bare, a gown of pink burnished gold,
tiara, four inches of diamond light blooming
from rich coffee hair—she glows and seems
aware.  That courtyard beyond Festival’s doors
says this night is hers, festooned in firefly
lights and white gifts for seasons
of being.  Now her fingers press down
the volumes of gathers,
her attendants hush their buzz,
the youths in their white tuxedos
straighten buttoned vests and shoulders.
She is moving from sidewalk
inside, that girl that is now woman,
hands loosely quiet, open,
a bevy of wings at her back.

always enjoy your work, Lynn

Stella

I made some changes.  Original below.

Lynn,

this is great.
I enjoyed.

tiko

You did catch the magic in your net, Lynn! Tom

Nice and clean.  A pick for sure.

R.

Thank you, Stella -- I missed your earlier comment.  Very pleased you enjoyed this.
And, Tiko -- thanks!  And Tom -- it was magical for me to watch [although I couldn't go through those open doors to celebration inside, the fanfare before her entry was fairtytale-like].
Bear, thank you.

lynn

This is masterful, Lynn, not only in how it captures a moment so vividly, but because in doing so it extends to become such a commentary on life. Great.

milner

lynn such a lovely contrast to the american sweet sixteen.  this is regal and youthful, a wonderful coupling of 15 year old nervous butterflies and an enchanting wise realization of a dignified role to be filled.  enjoy your language throughout here, the night backdrop contrasts well the festival lights and white tuxedos.  fantastic write here, very in the moment.  lawrence

milner, thank you.  since that evening I've been asking people about the celebration, and learning.  it seems aunts and great aunts and uncles, cousins, parents, etc. all contribute -- different portions of the greater family taking on various responsibilities [cake, flowers, gowns, setting, etc.]  i've also heard stories about people taking out loans on their homes to pay for these events.  so that at this point, what i once assumed [that the girl's family had great wealth] is no longer assumed.  what i think i can still is assume is a great coming together of extended family in support of these celebrations, something more than material, and that warms the heart, this heart, anyway. 

lawrence -- i so appreciate your comments and thoughts on this.  all that you've offered i felt as well, watching the small portion of this I was able to, and i'm so pleased to hear this came through in the writing.  thanks!

ld

Rereading with pleasure, have a question about:

gifts for her fifteenth season
of being.

Are the gifts to celebrate her past (15th) or her upcoming "seasons" as a woman (16th etc.)?

Sort of like a bat mitzvah, or a sweet sixteen party.  Everybody brings pressies.

Perhaps both?  The year ended and the year ahead?  The girl stepping out of one phase/role and into the next?

Lynn, even if it's 50/50, that seems off the mark a bit to me. A transition doesn't solely or even principally celebrate the last year of the the phase being left behind, as "gifts for her fifteenth season of being" points to. There has to be an apter, and so richer, phrase, I would think. Tom

i agree, tom.  there are apter and richer phrases -- i just don't know them at present.  time may allow them to find a way into my thinking.  (it often does).  thanks,

lynn