RIMA XL

Her hand held in mine,
her eyes on my eyes,
her loving head
resting on my shoulder,
God knows how often
we walked together
at a leisurely pace
under the tall elm trees
that cast dark shadows
over the entryway of her house!
And yesterday… scarcely a year
had passed, and like a breeze,
with such exquisite taste,
and with such great poise,
a gossipy friend told me,
when he encountered us:
«I believe I have seen you
somewhere.» Ah! Dummies,
you are the stylish
friends from the salons,
and you are looking for
gallant entanglements…:
What a tale you missed!
What a delicious feast
to be devoured
sotto voce hidden
behind a beautiful fan
of feathers and of gold!

                  *

Discrete and chaste moon,
lofty and thick-topped elms,
walls of her house,
threshold of her entryway,
be silent, and may you
never reveal our secret!
Be silent, since on my part
I have forgotten everything;
and as for her… there is no mask
that hides like her face!