The ballpoint slewed br The serpentine alley br In a frisky ballet br And the rapping of the estoque br Quavered the roof beams, br Shattering the heaven br Where I fell through br In a requiem br Of tainted inks. br br Fingers latticing br With an electric entanglement br And the gods hummed a lilt br Of elegiac carousing. br br Words toppled br Out of the gutter br And the silken moiré br Unruffled, ejaculating br Incorrigible life. br br A bard manqué, br A laureate usurper, br In a briskly cotillion br Of a subsiding swansong.