I heard vintage vinyl radiating pulses of soothing hymnal lullabies,
Delicate piano tinkles and sonorous saxophone,
Winding through a labyrinth of exquisitely furnished corridors,
Intimately caressing my senses and pricking my mind,
Like a tingling lick of electricity –
I saw a lavish crystal hourglass,
Teeming with specks of gleaming sapphire jewels,
And a revolving gyroscope of distorted mirrors,
Reflecting a million vivid beams of silvery starlight –
I saw plush fur-lined cushions,
Tenderly embroidered with floral designs of stunning beauty,
And finely quilted Persian rugs,
Intimately weaving threads of sensuous cashmere and lambswool,
Into a sublime blend of lush fabric –
I saw a ravishing Princess serenely sipping jasmine infused champagne,
Leisurely reclined upon an opulent divan,
With a mahogany cigarette holder dangling loosely from her fingertips,
A myriad of silk shawls and cotton cloaks cosily draped upon her alluring body –
I saw an ephemeral haze of Cuban cigar smoke,
Smouldering embers of Tibetan hashish,
And a silver ashtray gracefully resting upon the marble mantlepiece –
I saw ornamental porcelain saucers and teacups,
Brimming with exotic spiced potions and hallucinogenic elixir,
And a glamorous diamond bejewelled cigarette case,
Full of richly textured tobacco and pure opium powder –
I saw an antique grandfather clock brooding somnolently in the corner,
Its dusty brass dials announcing the midnight hour,
Ringing out its harmonic symphony of clanging bells,
Like an orchestra of metallic birdsong –
I saw a priceless glass jar bursting with sun-soaked azaleas and sunflowers,
Blooming gorgeous blossoms of dreamy yellow and gold,
Their tangled stalks bathed in crystal clear water –
I saw rich oak bookshelves laden with parchment scrolls of sacred wisdom,
And musky scented leather-bound manuscripts,
Of occult folklore, ancient Greek mythology and legendary gypsy fairy tales –
I saw smoky primrose-scented Roman candles flickering their fiery flames,
Like glittering moonlight reflections on a dappling wine-dark ocean,
The pensive dusk sun gradually fading over the horizon –
I saw a kaleidoscopic Impressionist oil painting,
Abstract forms of sublime landscape twirling majestically over the raw canvas,
Their glossy technicolour hues glimmering beneath a gas lamp’s luminous rays,
Like an Emperor’s crown laden with shiny jewels –
Poem by Stamos Mardou