Underneath the smooth-
ness of his new Armani suit
lurks decay
Underneath his promises
corruption rots.
His voice is luminous,
lustred, laced with lies.
“I respect your choice”,
But underneath,
his sheen is dulled
by verdigris corrosion.
He pushes closer, pushes, pushes
underneath he snakes his hands.
His rapture; her defeat
is underneath his weight
and afterwards he leaves
her blistered blue.
Underneath
the smoothness of his new
Armani suit corruption dwells.
Tang dynasty temple guard
Magaly Guerrero asks us at toads to use the following quote, from Terry Pratchett’s Carpe Jugulum, as a foundation: “Don’t trust the cannibal just ’cos he’s usin’ a knife and fork!”. I will also link to Poetry Pantry tomorrow.
—
February 3, 2016
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Moral perhaps: Don’t trust those who wear Armani suits? It is just a smooth surface, after all.
Yikes–I have a villanelle a bit like this, actually. Scary, and awful to contemplate but very effectively presented! Thanks for your sweet comment by me, Bjorn. Take care, k.
Such wonderfully terrifying images! You can see the rot leaking out of the exquisite fabric, the perfectly manicured hands strangling the snake of the unaware.
Love this, Björn!
This is electrifying. Very powerful and strong words. So many people can be this person.
Bjorn, I like the spin of greed and corruption being the cannibal. This poem is written with a exacting word choice to tell a violent and cautionary tale. Thanks so much for posting!
“Underneath his promises
corruption rots.”
I really liked that line!
Wonderful words for evil!
This really delivers the idea of a lurking evil beneath a shining exterior. Creepy, but an uncomfortable reality.
That’s a strong poem Bjorn…. great image of the verdigris corrosion under the posh suit!
ugh…true element of that hidden face well brought out…a powerful poem…
How sickening it is to see such as these at work. Selfish predators thinking only of themselves. How well you have written this.
By the pricking of my thumbs…
That suit is so familiar..sometimes we get lured and fooled into it as all dances with the devil are initially appealing but ultimately empty and soul destroying..expertly penned and the sculpture is equally chilling
Words to live by!
Whoaa… this is so powerfully expressed!
Wow, this emotionless vampire drains lives-well done!
Who is he fooling? only himself
nice response to the prompt, i havent written mine yet, still pondering
much love…
This oozes with corruption, and rottenness. Beware indeed this man!
this may be happening too frequently already.
those with the money thinks they can buy the silence.
this is a really powerful write.
I guess you can say all that looks and sounds good to you is not always good for you. Great write!
You have described him to a T (for Trump?) I can feel that horribleness under his surface polish.
Ha – your poem reminded me of the debates I recently watched and I am surely not trusting someone in Armani suits.
A very dark and well written poem, Bjorn. A stark reminder about the manufactured image and the truth beneath. I liked this.
He is a devil
Very scary. All the trimmings and a heart that’s foul!
A brilliant response to the prompt. Yes, we have all met people like that. (And oh, what a splendid illustration!)
“her defeat
is underneath his weight/wait”
Quite brilliant, really.
This is a phrase I’ll be hard-pressed to ever forget: “blistered blue.”
oh beware the devil in a slick suit
You’ve painted so well the facade and that which dwells beneath – chilling and effective writing, Bjorn.
The real world, Bjorn. ‘Stuff happens’ .
..
Hmm so typical of politicians!
Ha. …from other side they might trying to balance the inner world with outerwear…and in this way – they are very balanced people…lol, forgive me my fantasy…~ cool response to the prompt!
Bjorn, I’m speechless with your poem. Behind his Armani suit is corruption. It can be humorous too. This was entertaining. thanks!
Beware the sharp dressed man!
Oh. I like this. It’s what’s inside that counts, no matter how much you dress up a monster, he is a monster.
Bjorn,
Having read your poem this evening, I can see a similiar theme with my own poem subject. The corruption of celebrity, truths etc. The veneer of the suit and the glossy exterior; while all the while within, it’s not quite as nice, neat and morally correct. All suit, not much else!! Enjyed this very much..
Eileen
A powerful account of a well-practiced deceit!
Ah, some you just can’t trust.
Very disturbing, but provocatively true. True cut of rough edge…….