A buddy used to give advice

            To all and sundry who would fork out

            For the right to disregard his pearls,

            Fine people that they were

 

            But he grew tired of feeding off neglect

            And set up shop in trinkets proper –

            Jewels that could grace a neck or wrist,

            No questions needing answering

 

            It didn’t matter that his patrons didn’t know

            Whether the gems were genuine or not –

            They were –

            Until, that is, he tripled what he charged

            And salved his conscience with

            This far more honest way to price

            A fantasy