In the Garden Place, amoroso
Coming in from every boxed and metal thing
I stumbled on this courtly crowd –
I was on my best behaviour, hope it showed.
Down every aisle I nodded, noted every winning
smile –
very nice to meet you all,
it truly was, newly watered, dressed to kill.
Flaming Katy, a brick-red beauty, you brushed me off.
Proud, apart, Flamingo Plant, headed for the high life –
no, it wouldn’t work, I could never earn enough.
By the low foresty shrubs, small gentlemen cactus
took the air,
and near the door,
a variegated velvety one, a senior madam I’d met
before –
one eye on Wilbur Smith, the other on the money
market –
you stiffly shook, dropped a hint, I didn’t take it.
I hurried past, you didn’t like it.
I turned to go with almost a bow, promised I’d be back.
Typical, they sniffed, not taken in by that.
Leonard Lambert