Among the antiquities with attentive ambition

a bland beginning but burning and bold,

we carefully, cautiously, avoiding calamity,

disturb the dust; deliberate on detail;

examine the exhibits, eagle-eyed.

Feigning frivolity, going for gold,

you grip, you hold, happily chattering.

I avoid ivory; haunting instances of horror,

jaundiced ivory, stained with death in the detail,

carved kisses; knotted intricacy; learning of lost lives,

long unleashed lovers, missed moments of immortal intimacy.

Narrowly noted in old observations

among the photographs and personal memories,

not noticed between the over priced pearls

and the querulous porcelain, one perfect pebble

picked from obscurity by questing eyes.

No quibbles here on price or particulars,

slipped into negotiations with subtlety;

a small triumph, a rescued treasure

unearthed and verified by experts.

‘Yes, it is, yes’, with zest, ‘in the zone of zillions.’