It was the Gaudi chair outside the shop That reeled me in, A striking piece of work I didn’t need to sit in it To know its curving arms would not embrace, Though they might grant my own A momentary rest I left the sunlight and canal To venture in and brave a monstrous gloom of Old meticulously crafted artefacts and oversized Facsimiles of ships that had the tang of dust Instead of salt No doubt a cordial avaricious mannequin Would tell me that its price was Far beyond the reach of wayfarers like me, But I was used to bargaining for sport The apparition that emerged, however, Turned me mute: I took a backward step Into an unseen prow and blushed, Not from desire, as she smiled When I regained my tongue I tried to say, in not so many words Before I hastened out, that certain beauties Were at best beheld, not clinched And as I flew away along the labyrinth I swore she knew that if I lingered any longer I would prove myself a liar |