beware the thirteenth room!
lest you suffer Tréphine’s fate
—reach into the other ones
where you will remain safe.
one room has veils & veils,
another an aviary to play in.
a chandelier grows in the third
& the fourth is entirely velvet.
another has dancing poppets.
one gives view of the ocean;
another has perfume bottles;
one will crush you with roses.
the rest are themed: rococo,
gothic, art nouveau, art deco.
but beware the thirteenth room
where his prior wives hang
in bones, flesh torn, headless.
the axe in the bucket rattles,
waiting for the next victim.
