True, their marriage had far beyond ripened,
it had aged with the great city.
But that majesty was dashed
when the emperor's wife
had the veil--lifted from her eyes,
much like it had been years ago,
to find her leader
with that Young Woman,
whose eyes still bore the veil of
Stupidity.

The wife ran from the room, unseen,
to rejoin the flowers, the setting sun,
still thankful
for at least her own wisdom.