Otherwise Engaged

When I think of us, a vagrant smile comes
the jester owns when the fool acts himself
a heart's swindle is the safest of bets.
You still might ask what damage was done?
A deviant lark, could be nothing else
for who was hurt, you might ask, except
we were in love, I thought or I presumed.
With foolish certainty, until I saw through
the con it all was in dollars and cents.
I paid meals, shows, museums, hotel rooms
that summer for a French art student who
used me for her own convenience.
Who did not say, till she left that last day
she was engaged, it was all a charade.