At black tie dinner parties
she crosses her ankles
& listens intently to
the men weaving
silken destinies of countries
& women chatting about
the fate of nations
& newspaper horoscopes

how silent she is sipping
heavenly pearl tea from a china cup,
the Washington Post reporter
gossip & scandal on his mind
about a senator sending his naked
valentines to secret places

she dreams of her husband’s
marble love, as the apostles
watch her spooning sugar
from inside the wall