Lois Perch Villemaire

Lois Perch Villemaire is the author of My Eight Greats, a family history in poetry and prose and Eyes at the Edge of the Woods, a poetry chapbook (Bottlecap Press) 2024. Her work has appeared in,The Ekphrastic Review, ONE ART: A Journal of Poetry, Writing in a Woman’s Voice and elsewhere. Anthologies including I Am My Father’s Daughter have published her poetry and memoir flash. She was the winner of the Haiku Challenge in Pen in Hand July 2023. Lois lives in Annapolis, MD, where she volunteers at the local library, enjoys yoga, researching family connections, and propagating African violets.

Portrait of Regina

–After La Mujer de Collar a painting by Diego Rivera

I never knew of you
until searching through Ancestry,
digging into family roots
led me to discover my great grandfather
had a number of wives
spread out over the years
and across the ocean.

I researched to find my ancestors
never dreaming it would be
a mystery shrouded in dubiety.
Regina, your mother was his daughter,
my grandmother was his daughter,
half sisters unaware— it seems.

Your portrait appeared on the screen,
a blue velvet dress, statement necklace.
I studied your face,
felt your beauty, strong attitude,
an alluring smile.
I too have dark eyes,
my taste in jewelry
favors silver like yours.

You sat for Diego Rivera
in Mexico City in 1941.
His wife, Frida Kahlo
styled your hair,
braided with colored wool.
Afterwards you wore it
that way most of your life.