Diamonds

i just read about it in the society section 
of the newspaper
diamonds chandeliers white tie and laughter all around
at the year's opera gala or a reception 
for the latest fad actor
i forget which    but the gowns cut low 
the docility of jewelry
the besotted people trying to look suave i remember

i just read about it the next morning on a side street
diamonds chandeliers white tie and sounds like gunfire
at the year's opera gala or the caliber they used
i forget which    
but the gowns his mouth open 
his eyes open wide
the besotted people    
the stars    closed above him

the neighbors found him in the society section 
of the newspaper
they'd been afraid to go out earlier    laughter all around
the children could even guess a reception 
for the latest fad actor    but he'd been dead cold for hours
cut low the docility of jewelry
as if screaming at the windows    
trying to look suave i remember

the neighbors found him the next morning on a side street
they'd been afraid to go out earlier    sounds like gunfire
the children could even guess the caliber they used
but he'd been dead cold for hours    his mouth open 
his eyes open wide
as if screaming at the windows   
the stars    
closed above him

from Purgatorial (2004)