The empty shell sleeps on the silt,

its hugeness, now a shadow,

a home to silent transient fish,

the famous hotel now fallow.

.

The grande dames and tycoons

danced above, in  priviledged glow,

while steerage echos cried for help,

unheard from the bowels below.

.

The jewels and furs can't resuscitate

lungs bloated with sea- the rich die

as quickly as lower class, but not

in as great quantity,

for steerage means low, not high-

Life-it shows what money can buy.

01/10/2005