The Three Gifts by Shirley Nicholson

The Three Gifts

It was geranium red, perfect

for her black hair – she danced

around the room, coat held out

as though she might curtsey.

Instead, her young hands fingered

the lining near the buttons;

there, in sing-song stitch, words

embroidered in two shades of silk

on the lining’s shadow-grey,

a sprinkle of turquoise stars

and her name in gold,

the other words in brilliant turquoise:

For Asha because you are beautiful.

Shirley Nicholson lives in Manchester and Edinburgh and has work published in Beautiful Dragons anthologies, Best of Manchester Poets series, and work published by Blue House Journal, Wet Grain and InkyLab. She served on the advisory team for Poets and Players and participated in two London garden residencies with the Poetry School.