The Tour Guide's Toast


At the end of the day's designs,
after the reading of the signs,
after the sights and sounds,
while laughter yet abounds,
the guide rose from his chair,
he said to the travellers there,
"As your grateful host,
"I would like to propose a toast" ...

"Past the clockwork pyramid,
through the wireless light,
beside the feline bride--
I drink to the light of the moon.

Before the lady of fangs,
under blues that fade to red,
when sinuous fox tails twitch
'round the golden apple, your stolen kiss--
I drink to riddles in the dark.

Stripping away the surface,
turning loose the naked growl,
beside the roughneck parliament,
savoring the texture of night,
I drink to the ponderous delictum.

In the wink of the shimmering eye,
among the huddled whisperers,
above the blustering bastards,
clutching the hand of the holy sinner,
I drink to riotous love.
Drink with me, to riotous love".

The travellers all looked puzzled,
a few uncomfortably shuffled,
then a lady tilted her glass,
a young man began to laugh,
and the guide returned to his seat,
his work at last complete.