Corinne

“Man’s most valuable faculty is his imagination” – Germaine Necker De Staël (1766-1817).
 
One minute I, 
more Emile than Sophie, 
am everything, the next, 
Nothing. 
 
Freedman under emperor 
agency exercised 
a violation 
of parole. 
 
Degraded heart, 
mediocre mind, 
my dear, do I satisfy low 
expectation if not desire? 
 
Dear sir, from beneath 
courageous cloak 
naked vanity is showing 
shrivelled and furred. 

Uncovered I stand alone and 
bear my immodesty. 
protect me not, but 
witness.