Sarabande

“Waltz at the Bal Mabille” by

 

brass tangents strike notes
blithe of lilt within hinged
hardwood cabinet breasts
courtly clavichords call
upon Goldberg from Bach
turn to Handel for suite in
duet of politest inducement
nobility toe-stepping red
slippered privilege in silken
curled wigs prance across
marble floors gilt with light
from torchière candelabras
deferring the centers to
dauphins and damselles the
whole of each great genteel
hall all the gay midnight
mansions of empire dance
to the joy of their pleasing
self-image reflected from
flattering golden framed
mirrors obsequious artifacts
falsely informed and oblivious
to revolution that seethes
among squalorous precincts
upwelling with impatient
courage to remake their world

 

 

From my book Pieces of Wine