POETS UNITED - WEALTH

“There are people who have money and there are people who are rich.” Coco Chanel

The subject of Wealth is today’s topic at Poets United. The challenge is to write a poem about wealth, whatever wealth means to us. Here is mine:

As Time Passes

As time passes, I remember how:

We used to share a single bed

And laugh as we squeezed so close together

That our breaths would synchronise

And our hearts would beat in syntony,

As each heartbeat would fall into the other.

As time passes, I remember how:

Our hands would clasp each other

And through the sense of touch our souls

Would mingle through the skin;

And our chemistries would share reactions

In the test tubes of our sweaty palms.

As time passes, I remember how:

We would share a simple meal

And the food was made delicious

As we poured happiness on it –

Better than the richest sauce,

Our joy a condiment better than the rarest spice.

As time passes, I remember how:

Our lips would thirst for kisses ceaselessly

And our mingling breaths would communicate

Our innermost desires, our thoughts, our hopes…

Our eyes, though closed, would clearly

See into the depths of each other’s soul and share our boundless wealth.

Now, we share the broad expanse of a large gilt bed

And touching is rarely anything but accidental.

Now, our hands may hold each other every once in a while,

But our dry palms are places too arid for the excursions of our souls.

Now, every meal a rich repast: Caviar, truffles, champagne…

But we may as well be eating cardboard.

Now, our lips are locked closed, imprisoning our souls,

And our eyes wide open, barely acknowledging each other’s presence

When circumstances would have us pretend to kiss…