It was a Wednesday morning,
and the first thing that we saw … at the Café
was a vision of sun-kissed skin and Woodstock
with her customary coif and signature hat,
a paved paradise sophisticate.
A woman of heart and mind that once
dispensed advice on sunscreen and skin care
now offers scalpel-edged scrutiny of public welfare,
a stark contrast to the image
conjured by her free woman in Paris visage.
Buttoned-down convictions, unwavering and steely,
delivered with the same gentle authority
she used to diagnose moles and rashes—
a paradox that courts and sparks us,
a fascinating blend of artistry and rationality.
Folk era in style, but no nonsense in spirit,
a reminder that looks can be deceiving,
that labels are limiting and merely names,
that people are complex, layered
with nuances and circle games.
Help us, we may disagree, go round and round,
but we respect Barb’s voice, her steady sound,
her unwavering commitment to her beliefs.
For there’s room for both sides now in California,
an endlessly churning river of left-right insania.
She’s a neat ol’ mama, and we love her.
© 2025, Kenneth Koziol. All rights reserved.
