Lady

Beautiful woman

I would like to tell you a few things about myself

however, with the world the way it is

perhaps we should start from there

so that I can see the art in the jewels of your eyes

so that I can tremble by your form

without the adulterated illusions

demeaning the sway in your wineglass hips

with an existence that goes unexamined.

This planet was once as beautiful as you

with rivers for legs and forests sweeping up

in hills of the emerald in your ring,

but the men you know are wretches

the men you know are suicidal

the men you know are owners

of a particular sense of accomplishment

known as murderous achievement at all costs.

This avenue was once as lively as you

with a laugh to tint the marquees

and a sigh to flit tiredly into the midnight street lamps

but it has grown morose with the planning

of the rich who couldn't entertain a city gal

to save their lives. Sure, you will find

it exquisite until they throw you out of bars

for your raucous laugh

until they mar your cocktail dress

with cruelty that artless boredom fosters.

I came from the slums

with a stolen diamond known as intellect

to speak to you in the soft patter of rain

clearing away the smog of solace

to tell you that what you do with beauty

is the burden of your life

and not the choice of the poor in spirit.

So dance amid these luminous ruins

as the moon snakes across an obscured sky

known as the twilight of man

where our inner darkness goes unobserved,

and sing through the cacophony of hatred

with glib play in your eyes

as you contemplate the coming of new christs

who die unknown by bibles, who die

without ever owning a room.

So laugh at their caricatures depicting

an image of yesterday without

even enough living beauty to fit with

the form behind your perfume.