she wore velvet

she liked to wear velvet

when out

in public.

it's what her mother did

and her mother's

mother wore when out

and about.

she showed me

the photos of them

walking around

in purple jump suits,

or a dress, a gown.

their long dark hair,

exactly alike

all hanging down

to the middle of their

backs.

she said she was canadian

so that somehow made

it okay.

you wanted to pet her

like a cat

when you saw her

on the street.

sometimes she'd purr.,

and other times she'd

give you a deadly look 

and say, don't do that.