The Infection Carrieress

I work for the infection
I pass the infection on.
I pass the infection on to the king.

I also give the infection to the queen
I give it to her in the hand
as I do a deep courtly curtsy.
And the infection embeds itself in the stripes of the silk,
in the edge of the corset
makes the insect in her brooch sparkle
and the split sharpened strands of hair smile

The style of the infection is an active relay, always moving on
like thought it always moves on
a ritual imitation of the previous recurrence
in the healthy infection carrier.

I am the healthy infection carrier.
I smile at you.
I am a jeopardous gift
Still sexy
and with good Egyptian taste
I work for the infection.