The Byzantine

[TranquillityBase]

The revision is a significant improvement on the original.
But editing out

I was devious, an actor who threaded my way

to sex any way I could, like a high-wire
rat, a remorseless acrobat.  

does rob the poem of its central message.
I wonder what the connection is with Byzantium, though. The emperor was opulent, but Byzantium is not associated with hedonism, only bureaucracy....?

In blue - a bit wordy.

Thanks Busker,

The woman once told me, "You would have been a good Byzantine" or words to that effect.  Also, "have you ever considered acting?"  But perhaps I should just forget Byzantium (you are correct in that it is mainly used as a metaphor for intricate bureauracy today).

And I'd really like to weave those final strands back in.

TqB