We must match!
Her one deeply held belief,
a lifelong aethetic.
She painted pictures
with her clothes, shoes, jewelry, purses.
Makeup used for dramatic accents, and hats
if the occasions warranted them,
which they almost always did.

She curated her china, linens,
candles, flowers, even flatware, 
creating a concerto of colors
for a fancy party or family dinner.
It didn’t matter. 
A beautifully set table, she said,
shows that you care.

It was only after I buried her
that I realized
it was all a mask
to try and hide her pain.