Pavane pour une infante défunte
by Marco Katz Montiel / November 9th, 2025
“I have decided, as I always have,”
The distraught prince told the press, “to put my
Duty to my family and country first.”
When his middle-aged ego needs the salve
Of a young girl whom he forces to cry.
“I have decided, as I always have.”
Fearing his daughters would believe the worst,
He takes refuge in an infamous lie.
“Duty to my family and country first.”
And then, desperate for an escape valve,
He calls on the law: instructs them to pry.
“I have decided, as I always have.”
When all else fails and he feels he will burst,
He turns to his mum. He knows she will try.
“Duty to my family and country first.”
The girl’s book raises the tone an octave.
Now the Prince knows how much his name is cursed.
“I have decided, as I always have…
Duty to my family and country first.”
Marco Katz Montiel composes poetry and prose in Spanish, English, and musical notes. He went to college late, and then alienated one university by publishing about bigotry on campus and got kicked to the curb by two others for his union activities. Still, Marco managed to graduate and even publish a book on music and literature with Palgrave. His essays, poems, and stories appear in
Ploughshares,
Jerry Jazz Music,
English Studies in Latin America,
Copihue Poetry,
Camino Real,
WestWard Quarterly,
Lowestoft Chronicle,
Dissident Voice, and in the anthologies
Cartas de desamor y otras adicciones,
There’s No Place, and the
Capital City Press Anthology.
Read other articles by Marco Katz, or
visit Marco Katz's website.
This article was posted on Sunday, November 9th, 2025 at 8:00am and is filed under Poetry.
