“Zeh was a pharmacist”

or claimed to be,

times were tranquil, people didn’t ask too many questions,

but when a new broom came along, it was duly “established that” etc.

and it all contributed to his downfall.

Zeh was an incomparable magician

shelves full of powders and tinctures

not that he had to sell them to you

you were persuaded of their efficacy

in advance.

Zeh had mixed up a slimming-cure

called Zeean that you hardly even needed to take

it worked in your pocket

you straightaway started to reduce.

He had stuck that preparation

       in one of the pharmacy windows.

Among other things you could see there

herbal teas, pestles and mortars, chatty tips

for di- and nocturnal events of an untoward nature

all of it defying description—

unrivaled in their suggestiveness

from a psychosomatic point of view

his like would never be found again

children (not likely!) desunt,

long since turfed out of his grave.