My Love of Beauty

I like beauty bold and cheap  -
tinsel trees with greedy blue stars
and the kind of candles
that smell like fruit,
rings and ribbons so gold
they stain the furniture
when I shift
and black tafetta dresses
that stand up in the corner
and welcome in the crowd.
I like oil paint
smeared across the canvas
and red velvet sofas
that swallow up the simple,
silver gilding
on my porcelain cups
and my men
so thick and gaudy
they wear out my kisses
with stains upon my lips.