I Live in the City of Imperial Delights

~ a menu for you, madam? ~

Photograph by author

Yes thank you.

Ah, afternoon!

Over by those trees

hover lupines

and yellow shades,

bluebells and

butterflies in between …

Waiter?

Please take it away

what

you have here

is a flute of

sour champagne

a stone would

choke on.

I don’t want it!

I see men in it

drowning in themselves.

Over

by those trees are

bushes like lime-green

tambourines

sharp with birdsong,

dandelions and

butterflies in between…

These bits of nettles,

snatched kale

crusty bandages of

green rags,

gag on lies and

cheap wizardry.