NOM DE PLUME

It was all there
The silks
The aurum
All that glitters
The stodgy furniture
The slovenly table
The totems of money
That bought all
Almost all
African masks, Italian masques
And the chimney smoked
Squares of velvet chocolate
Crumbly blue cheese
Fromage puant
The palate a virgin
The desires, sinners
Greed knew no other name
And still the chimney smoked
Love was left behind in time
Love knew another name
Dresden, Waterford, Pratesi
Money bought all
The heart didn’t
And the blood didn’t know
And still the chimney smoked
Fraying emotions coupling obligations
Life was another name
Another game
Money squandered, money regained
Money was all
Mockery circling in the maze
At times a way out
But into a mirage
And still the chimney smoked
Heart strings tugged
The violin played
The lament on the cello
And still the chimney smoked
Hither, thither, everywhere
An empty house
An empty heart
An empty life
Till love came home