CHANGE OF HEART

Me, being me
I always wore

my heart
on my sleeve.

But now…
no more.

I asked the assistant
if I could see

“…some new hearts
…please? ”

(that would suit
my change of heart) .

“Why, certainly sir! ”
(he smiled sycophantically) .

He showed me
a heart
“…in light pain.”

“Or, if Sir
may not mind me commenting
this deep purple pain
… suits you Sir! ”

“Don’t you have any
…in bright joy? ”

“Or at best
…partial happiness? ”

“Or at least
…contentment? ”

The assistant smirked:

“…at what one must assume
is Sir’s…little joke? ”

“Happiness is so…old hat! ”

“Happiness is…how you say
… so passé! ”

I left the shop clutching
an expensive purple heart

knowing I would never
wear it

And that it would
hang in the wardrobe

Mocking
My predicament.

So, now
I don’t have a mind
to have a heart.

Get by
(somehow)

… without

…one.