A Riff On Kevin East's Fine Poem: The Room Poem by David McLansky

The paintings on the wall
Were witness to it all:
Two lovers
So enthralled
As we mounted, cried, and called;
The empty chairs in the hall
Quietly recall,
How they held us
In their arms;
Burdened
By our doubled charms;
The chandelier,
Gently swayed
When we danced
As on parade,
Regal with romance.
Naked in a trance,
Before the audience of books,
Who watched
With sullen looks,
We were intimate before friends
Who knew Time would put an end;
Too polite to say a word,
All their wisdom, mute, unheard;
For eventually, we both left,
The furnishings stood bereft;
The clock on the mantle piece,
Stopped ticking with relief;
A sunny corner room,
On a silent afternoon.