Violetta taught her lizard
to sing
a libretto
Alfredo’s script became
a passion play on morality

better a whore
than a bore he sang
and sunlight struck
his draconian scales

and he fought
with Verdi
over the fallen woman
the audience wept

and he had a brush
with fame
but he wasn’t famous
he became an Italian shoe

_________________________________________________________________

Poetry by the artist. Artwork: ink and watercolor on 140# watercolor paper, 8.25 ” x 11.75″.