Poem for Wednesday: A Victorian Living Room

by Nathaniel Charles

A Victorian Living Room

The room is embarrassed.

For it knows that privacy is wanted,

And so some space is made

For the young lovers.

First moves the chaise long,

Creeping on four short legs

Muffling its ears

With its own pincushions.

Then scuttle the chairs,

60s in design

But not in spirit...

For a blush is spreading through their upholstery.

Finally the curtains,

They slide closed,

Drapes ruffled suggestively

Like the fine lace negligée

Now scattered on the carpet,

Which cannot move.

So it lies there,

Averting its eyes and thinking of Queen Victoria.