The first night on Terceira Island in the Azores, we were walking along the street towards the sea, and an image on a sign hanging over a storefront caught my attention. I was attracted to it. And, I’ve thought about the image many times since. I wrote a poem to capture my thoughts about it.
A Mulher do Capote
(A Woman in the Cape)
Who is this cloaked figure?
I am drawn to her.
She’s mysterious,
Inviting,
A keeper of secrets,
A listener.
She holds beauty lightly yet it follows her,
She shares it wherever she goes.
She doesn’t need recognition,
But is recognizable.
Beautifully mysterious~
A silhouette to ponder.
Valerie Bollinger 2025