A Mistress Reminisces

Oh, ma chérie,
thanks for coming,
now sit, if you can, and listen.

Let me tell you of the past, my dear.

Can you imagine the noble joy
of entertaining a single guest
far from rushed rites
on a visit after weeks
filled with fanciful ideas
born by distance
and whispered secrecy
in baronial antechambers?

How does that compare to
today's word-of-mouth propaganda
among the regulars in louche gin mills,
and uptight seekers in the tabloids' seedy columns?

What happened to petite castles
maintained for the Madame de Plaisir
near lakes of reed
and woods of willow
and, unlike today,
far from any neighbor?

Now look at this false-lashed dosshouse,
domiciled between laundry drains and backstage doors,
rotting in the murk of thick leather and dull plastique,
when once gauzy silken stockings, peeled off
became chaînes féminines that bound and beguiled
in the light and breeze of summer afternoons
invited in through open windows for atmosphere.

Don't you wish you could appropriately greet the tumultuous wind
that played in the fields and followed your trail
emulating its sighs and howls,
but look at yourself now
muted instead
fed with the orb of obedience
caught up in your civilized manner
intimidated by all these strangely shaped toys.

What happens at the whim of the moment
on your walk home from office
that lets you turn the corner of excuse
and find my direction
to spend what doesn't make a living
for neither one of us?

Oh, those forgotten times
long hours in the bucking carriage
premature punishment from the slopy lanes
for all that inflicted waiting
the titled behind's estates prepared
for more to come.

My, my, I've got so much to tell,
but your time is already up
and look, all that has become loose
is my tongue.

One more thing, Monsieur,
I have to say
what they all have in common,
then and now,
are the wives,
confused, yes
skeptical, at first
willing to know, later, I swear,
to learn,
and keep.

Now, excusez-moi, s'il vous plaît
an arduous task is at hand,
I've got another lesson to give,
how to handle it herself,
and then, another client
off my list.

Au revoir,
unless
you don't like me talking.