Aesthetics by Sandi Leibowitz

The birthday party
on the beach:
a mockingbird posing
on the restaurant’s weather vane,
silhouette sharp as if cut from black paper;
sailboats on the blue curve of bay;
three green-umbrellaed tables
spread on the sand;
sunlight caught in the ice
of beaded water pitchers
glinting like the Met’s chandeliers—
beautiful.

But most beautiful of all,
my friend’s father,
paterfamilias, our host,
strolling blissfully through the surf
with his tiny, swim-suited grand-daughters
in his long-sleeved white shirt,
black pants, and laced black shoes.



Sandi Leibowitz, author of Ghost Light, The Bone-Collector, and Eurydice Sings, lives in New York City. Her poetry has garnered second- and third-place Dwarf Stars, as well as nominations for the Elgin, Rhysling, Pushcart Prize, and Best of the Net awards. Please visit her at www.sandileibowitz.com.