Serendipity

From Frans Hals’ "The Merry Drinker”

Quick brushstrokes

beard a tangle

of black, red worms

lace collar a blur

of white, yellow

meant to be seen

from afar.

Jovial, red faced

 man stands

a glass of wine

in one hand

the other open,

a study of smudges

black, yellow, red

to make brown.

He speaks of good times

in the town.

Katherine Wood Wolfe