White Velvet Poem by Liilia Talts Morrison

Did you ever wear a cloak
Softer than a kitten’s chin
Creamy, milk rich, mild its yoke,
Cradling soft with languid stroke?

Folding, falling, touching ground,
Arms and shoulders blending in,
Couching, tender to surround
Floating o’er the snowy ground?

Did you ever fall on stones
Frozen in a crevice deep,
Soiling garments as your groans
Upward flew, pale, icy moans?

When green spring came with its thaw,
Did you heal as violets bloomed,
Shedding tears with eyes that saw
Once smooth velvet, stained and raw?

Seasons come and seasons end,
Violets, velvets blending bend,
Folds of love will not transcend
Weighting cloaks as you descend.

If you’re offered garments fine,
Softer than a kitten’s chin,
Robes caressing, quite sublime,
They deceive like tainted wine.
Lying robes like tropic clime,
Choking love, both yours and mine.