Eating Madeleines on October Mornings

dawn tapped on the window to interrupt
the dreamy chatter
of victorian estates with peeling paint
and watercolor lovers, who
smeared deceit upon the pegs
of a ladder
climbing from the garden.
weight of an apricot sky,
pressing hard on the lids, summoned
strength against weeping corneas
settled on the sill --
reflecting her verdigris gaze.
as she sat on the toilet curtained dark,
socks whimpered on her ankles;
left eye's lashes (a cluster missing like stars,
only noticed
by the strangers who dared look deep enough
as they passed)
flickered and peeled.

e. chayes