Sparkles pegged behind a flashy mask
an unheard voice awaits
to be spoken
Layers of diamond on his neck
sagging skin — spinous vertebra by vertebra —
no one remembers his laugh
A coiled serpent-in-law
on his throne of gold
drips beads of temptation
slowly from its fangs
it whispers with yellow eyes —
Leave your morals behind,
then intrude