Cairo, Egypt 1890
when the pipe came out
after the diamond studded napkins
a new difficulty arose
I was asked to draw it in
to receive a pipe
and started to detest the thing
and how one could tell
if you were a tight lacer or not
this afternoon I felt my waist
set at sixteen
a sophisticated number pleasing the crowd
not the upper abdomen
now pressed upon to take in and exhale
careful stay inside etiquette
though when you’re wrapped up
how far can you go
wanting to sigh deeply
but only granted a shallow one
why wouldn’t I welcome
dark coffee slender cigarettes and gold knitted napkins
all arriving after the pipe a real beauty
the dreadful thing
reminding me of the other dreadful thing
certainly I was glad the whole procedure was completed successfully
and without incident