Zeros

The grandstand bursts in colors bright and bold,  A towering derby hat , a story to be told.    Feathers flutter high beneath the April sun,  Where stylish ladies show the race is nearly won.    From wide-brimmed elegance to towers reaching far,  Each sculpted bonnet aims to be the shining star.    Yet through the silks and ribbons we can glimpse a doubt,  Did Easter Lent begin before the crowds poured out?    Perhaps some pious souls forgot the solemn date,  Too busy planning looks that truly seal their fate.    The mint julep swirls, the horses take their place,  While wide millinery fills up all the space.    A silent prayer ascends above the joyous roar,  For penance missed, though fashion we adore.    So crowns of straw and velvet claim the Derby scene,  A festive, funny clash of what has always been.