Stateroom

Ushered through bronze doors, he sees
an avenue of chandeliers
cobwebbed with loops of brilliance.
The princess glitters like a mirage.
Her tiara breaks light into
peach, cyanide-blue, citrine.
As he ambles towards her,
she peers through binoculars,
a jewelled lorgnette, a monocle…
The suitor tries to keep his nerve.
He bows, makes small talk about
weather, the latest ship in port.
His favourite pastimes? — gambling
and shooting. Favourite colour? — mauve.
He's a Capricorn — alas!
He chats without pause as if his life
depended on it, smiles into
the frozen teardrops of her eyes.