[F.F. Teague]

This is my alternative to 'Nips' (still on Met). 'I' is my character Fran.


A trophy piece

He asks me if I'll wear the brooch tonight
for New Year's drinks. I don't know if I can.
I love the way the colours catch the light,
the blues and greens and gold. I love my man

yet wonder why he had to choose this piece,
a dragonfly with human female breasts.
He told me that it's French and added, Nice!
I laughed, despairingly. And now the guests

are starting to arrive downstairs. I sigh
and try to fix her subtly. It's no use.
I dress so quietly; she's a battle cry
to rouse the spirits of the troops, seduce

with all her rounds and, worst of all, those claws,
a pervy pair of huge and hungry hands.
I peer again and see a serpent's jaws
about to seize. And so erect, she stands,

a trophy piece. That isn't what I want,
but I don't want to argue either. So,
I tie a little ribbon round her front
and fix her to my wrap. We're good to go.

😇