Alchemisland

When she spoke, it was with an implacable accent

Neither French nor Irish

A brute chimera festooned with the worst of both

All rolled Rs and missing Hs.

I’m reaching those ‘missed the boat’ sort of ages,

And I wondered, in fact I hoped, that if you wouldn’t accompany me to dinner

You would at least lend or lease me enough rope to release me,

Preventing further deterioration,

My going away tantamount to this grey world’s amelioration.

She came from Tours, or had toured about that nation 

Or was it Toulouse or Duluth or Macroom?

Surely the best piece

Produced by the best Tudor jeweller;

A bracelet with two lovers’ initials inscribed thereon, and toujours 

A mind so smoke diluted

I must constantly remind myself

Or I just don’t do it.