eat peeled wallpaper, balls
of lint in broken drawers;
across veneer, find pairs
of thick and chipped wenge legs,
art deco chaise lounge chairs,
upholstery now in rags.
And under the gold transom,
the stained glass, bas-reliefs
of pelicans held in ransom—
enter and exit thieves—
three archeologists:
Jamal, Kordell, and Floyd
who count on their proud lists
Zimbabwe and Detroit.
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1.
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