Long ago, she had been told

Southern rules

That “good” girls follow

Never mix silver and gold

Don’t wear black with brown

Heaven forbid if you get caught wearing white before Easter or after Labour Day

It just isn’t done that way

Make sure you get as good as you give

Love only the “right” one

at the “right” time

Build your walls high

 Keep your hems low

Don’t forget if you forgive

And ladies don’t drink beer from a can

Yet this morning

She laughed, once again, at the reflection in the mirror

Slid her feet into brown leather sandals

Buttoned the short black dress

Just in case the wind lifted the hem, she worn her salsa drawers

Layered her bracelets

One by one

And the stone necklace that she never went without

She had decided

Long ago

To make her own 

Set of rules

Live her life

Whether anyone understood or not

She forgot when she forgave

Drank margaritas, sweet wine and Blood Honey beer

Every chance she got

She fell in love

One by one

Over and over

Day in and day out

Built a wall of mystery

Lined it with peace

Gathered kindred spirits

Planted roots

So that good things could bloom

Found God in every place

Gave all she could

Received what she was given

After all…it was the only way

That made sense to her

Long ago

7 08 a.m.  3/28/17

Www.jeannasoul.com