Gilding the Lily

We cursed at our frailty

She squalled silently

We had to capitulate to reality

        And I just stood there

We crossed paths at that summer party

She was a Venus in shorts

We smiled at our fortunate stroke of serendipity

        And I just stood there

We built a palace

Gaudi designed the foundations

We wrote codes too cryptic for Rosetta

        And I just stood there

We cried for more

The half-empty glass of simplicity

We swam past the breakers

        And I just stood there

We repainted the gallery

Blinded by the colors

We gilded the lily

        And I just stood there

We became our worst selves

The Craig of a Connery

We swallowed the dregs

        And I just stood there

We are staring at karma

The nadir of our love

We are singing our coda

        And I am just standing here

-Tobi Nifesi

'Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp,

To guard a title that was rich before,

To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,

To throw a perfume on the violet,

To smooth the ice, or add another hue

Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light

To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,

Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.' - Salisbury (The Life and Death of King John; Act 4, Scene 2)