FIN-DE-SIECLE

A short beard, a long cloak,

a cavalier hat wearing a man

from the cobbled street in mist

inside step; absinthe lacking,

no doubt, beside a window sat.

An order, the one and only -

the green liquid in a butterfly bottle

(Oh the symbolism! Life! Death!)

comes riding the waiter; madness

and coins exchanging cold hands.

18.11.2017