New Coat

This late summer morning is learning how to breathe

while Reina embroiders on the lanai shaded by our rainbow umbrella

Pete and Willie of Villa Magic have taken five weeks to burn

scrape and sand off our villa’s century-old skin  and replace it

In the kowhai a lone cicada’s love call sounds like the imperious

snapping of fingers ordering our villa to rise up

in its new coat of iceberg white

and plum trimmings: its radiance will wrap round Reina’s

fingers and needle

and the morning will breathe in admiration

© Albert Wendt April 2014