Auction

Why should we value an oil portrait

painted of a stranger by a stranger?

Or an exotic tamed monkey?

What use could there possibly be

in the fibula of a long-dead saint?

Why do we dress up in austere clothing

and march in pairs into distinguished halls

to wave bills about like fans?

Such a bizarre, barbaric ritual.

"Starting bidding for the nude cupid statue

at ten thousand dollars."

"Ten thousand!"

"Ten thousand from the gentleman

in the garish sport coat.

Do I have fifteen thousand?"

"Fifteen thousand!"

"Yes, fifteen thousand from the veiled lady

with the diamond ring and pearl earrings.

Do I have twenty thousand?"

"Twenty thousand!"

"Twenty thousand from the woman

with the sapphire brooch.

Do I have twenty-five thousand?

Going once, going twice....

SOLD, to the woman with the sapphire brooch."

----

Note: Today's prompt was: "List ten items that you would buy at an auction, or tag sale. Write a poem including those items. You may chose to title your poem, "Things Found At An Auction". Variation, have someone else create a list for you." Not my favorite, so far. I'm really not a fan of prompts that ask me to use lists of items in my poem. I think they're just awkward. Oh well. I did the best I could.