An adventure from my travels to Portugal. COSTUMES TO FILL by Laurence Fuller A great shuddering chandelier, Beneath pearls drop like ancient tears, Toes on the edge daring their fears, Eyes of sparkling onyx, Which pulled them in with a promise, Skin like a glistening shell, Past reflections of the deepest well, Mysteries dancing on the balances of the lines of her lips, Marquees left it all for the talents and her gifts, Circling the wheels of time, The distant silhouette of a kiss, Through mirrored doors and colorful bells, A velvet coat, his fabrics draped and felt, The hem between her fingers. Before she left the room, The faintest scent of perfume, Her youth in full bloom. What is a word worth, On the edge of this world, A shadow which hangs from his lapel. Memories of a headdress by the tomb of an angel, Contained 12 pins, each one pricked by the small drops, Those first gems of the sea. Weaving tapestry of her garments, Curtains hang from the glass door where she leaves, That fate kept them inch by inch closer to the trenches, Where young soldiers, ships and the remnants of a great adventure. Where few sacrificed all for their nation, Hearts beating across the land in unison, Mirrors reflecting stories of the lives they lived behind the glass. The hours preserved without beating hearts, But a costume to fill, With skin and scars. To journey to that fountain, The spring which boils so hot, Where passions overwhelm but a thrill to stand there so close to see it’s steam rise, They risk it all to touch. Laurence Fuller, 2023 Animated AI art & music ~ Sound, Poetry, Produced and Performed by Laurence Fuller @laurencefuller www.laurencefuller.art/web3