Tonight's Poet Corner: Winded

Winded
by Belinda Roddie

Extravagance leaves a fat man
winded when he's weighed down by
anchors of pirate gold, Blackbeard's laughter
subsiding in his ears 'til there's a
slim echo anticipating cardiac collapse.
No, don't take the diamonds off him - he
sparkles so naturally, his
sweat just like crystal against the cut
manufacturer's wet dreams. And again

make him dance
like a chandelier. And again make him
drool puddles of silver. And
again submit him to emerald pull-ups with
crowbars over stock market chainsaws and
watch him scream over the buzzing.
But he's happy to be rich, and he'll
happily endure the wealth spasm until he
passes it down like a disease to his sons and
daughters, who will bloat from the

$$$
but slice the baby fat with scalpels
paid with more $$$
but it's not good enough, so more $$$, and
more $$$,
and more
$$$