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.