They were a lovely family of puppyish rulers
whose days spread out like scattered roses
& who, despite their ease, were seldom foolish.
The first son was a Brad Pitt lookalike,
& the daughter was regarded as an archetype
among those for whom archetypes matter.
Both took after their father, who was a player.
The middle brother was also a player
although he took after mother in both wit
& charm. In later life, a retired architect,
he lived in a small castle made of straw
& packed mud, but clad in redbrick.