RIMA XXVI

Against my interests I must confess,
            my beloved, that like you
I believe that an ode is only good
written on the back of a banknote.
When they hear this, some fools
            will be shocked and say:
«Oh, how materialistic and prosaic, typical
of the nineteenth century…» Nonsense!
Words spouted by a few poets who cloak
themselves with their lyre during the winter!
The barking of dogs who howl at the moon!
You and I both know that in this life,
there are few who have the talent to write it,
and with gold, anyone can make poetry.