the pretty cottages burned

it's his fault
no it's hers
locked in a cold vault
with the famous furs
in order to get ahead
in the rental house sleeping in a silent bed
proceeding with great haste
it was a very gay time
regardless of the apparent waste
it was never called a crime
when the pretty cottages burned
it was simply a lesson learned
in the hot summer hours
and in the snow
dry wilting flowers
at the Philadelphia Art Show
for several hours each day
people lined up eager to pay
and it seemed a small price
to see brilliant colors turn pale
to watch the melting ice
receding on a giant scale
it was impossible to know what was thought
when they opened the gifts they bought.