He saw

a desert picture,

Mojave,

her costume,

her children,

the stage,

and remembered.
Somewhere,

in Ecotopia?

there is video

proof:

A costume’d man,

Teenage
Mutant
Ninja Turtle
(popular the first time around)

standing on a balcony

stage,

as soft light

through the patio window

breaks.

He’s surrounded by

young ballerinas,

Merry Misses,

missing the raindrops

and the mist,
laughing,

skipping,

she directing.

Were there tissues

and cloth

and streamers?

Moving,

Swirling,

Dancing

around him,
(old yet young,
giggling)

chanting:
“excellent.
Excellent!
EXCELLENT!”

It was her first
video choreograph.
It was finished,
parked,
and lost.

He never saw it,
that videoed memory,

most excellent,
but in his mind,
he can recall
those better,
more pure
days,
and dances.

Even without

the video,

taped,

and the paper mache’

green and purple,

long since crushed

and lost

turtle head.

Seeing hats of green,

he remembers.

She

has not strayed.
Her art

reminds him

to be

mutant

excellent.