An Afternoon at the House of Captain Faulk

The seance ends. The medium is slumped
upon the divan's sky-blue velvet, lost
and looking dazed. Worldly news has trumped
the attendees' attentions. Smoke of sauced
tobacco loiters round the room, from flaming
charcoal braziers (breathing out monoxide).
Fickle hearts—but there's no use in blaming
them for running off to wait at dockside:

their father, by acuity and stealth
slipped the blockade, defeating the embargo
bringing in a ton of precious cargo,
furs and amber to restore his wealth.
The outlook's sanguine for the Misses Faulk
who've lost all interest in spirit talk.

hearts; séance; acuity; slump; lost; loiter; flaming; sky; fur; sanguine

--words courtesy of Read Write Poem
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