One noticed his hands, 
finely carved, 
almost the colour of jade, 
and the fingernails, 
pink and cultivated.
       He spoke of Art
       and of poetry
       and held us with descriptions
       of the Masters.

Often when walking
he sang fragments
of austere Spanish songs
from the Court of Ferdinand, 
and quoted Dante
accurately and often.
       But in his lapel, 
       discreetly, 
       he wore a sprig of asphodel.