From green-ribbed
carriages,
one petal
at a time,
iris descend
for a brief visit;
wrapped in purple
shawls and lavender
gowns with deeper
purple folds,
they form
a procession
across the lawn,
and at their throats,
they wear jeweled necklaces
of ruby laced with gold.
Now center stage,
they ravish us
with their formal colors
as if they were showy sopranos
about to hit a high “A” note
on opening night at the opera.