AUNT MAUREEN

Photo by Lon Casler Bixby

twenty five years ago

when i was a kid

you scared me to death

i thought you were a witch

dyed

jet black hair

pale white skin

and always

dressed in black from head to toe

today

you are the same

but

you are not a witch

my views have changed

matured

you are mysterious

appealing

sexy

what is behind your lifelong façade of black

black bra

black heels

spiked

i will never know you

too many years

and

a distraught family have kept us apart

in my mind

i can only imagine what you are like

behind your shroud of blackness