I recently came to know a beautiful young woman.

                                          With a smile cold and blue as an iceberg.


In its infancy, I had hoped our encounter to be born under the auspices of great Romance.
Much to my dismay, I soon found myself mistaken.
Her interest, though perhaps as physical as mine, was business-like.
A professional it would seem, though not quite of the consummate variety.

                                          And as the weight of her shrewd bargaining fell to me  
                                          with all the delicacy of a roughly-hewn tree, 
                                          my elevated hopes and ego crashed alongside it.


Although her affect was cool and controlled, she projected an aura of need and uncertainty.
She was clear however, that I could offer nothing more beyond compensation for her services.
With some regret I informed her that she was not selling anything I had hoped to find.


I no longer know a beautiful young woman.

                                          With eyes and hair as dark and soft as raven's wings.