THREE POEMS
After the Masquerade
The masquerade was over, but the guests refused to leave.
We taught our children to stay a grave’s depth apart.
“Six feet under” originated with the plague to keep
the animals from digging too deeply into our wounds.
At the party, the Sun King carried a parasol decorated
with lice and lilies. We were the last ones naked
in the swimming pool. Millions died. For scope,
we looked at the stars. All those names we could not
remember. The streets were made ofand monumental body parts.
