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Gay as in I love Bebe Neuwirth
as Lola in Damn Yankees, as
ROXIE HART ROCKS CHICAGO,
the snap of nylon at her hip, her heart
shaped lips, flushed skin vamped
up with kohl. Bebe, Roxie,
Lola, the tip of the tongue taking —
as Lilith in menswear. Legs doubling
to infinity in the stage mirror. Fan kicks
the size of saucers. Oh, to throw
a rose at her feet! To be her leopard
bikini in Summer of Sam!
My favorite part of a woman is the place
where waist meets arch and my other
favorite part of a woman is the stretch
which hits the floor when Bebe does the splits
Yes, YES I am perverse for this
Something gruesome might happen tonight
flat bubblegum spots turned black
under the clack of my heels
mechanical fumes, streetlight halos
Watch where you’re going, I’m
walkin’ here
I must have watched
too much rubber-eyed horror,
fingers shining ruby red under rusted faucets
I see a subway grate, think,
gusts of girls, rolled ankles and skirts swallowed
by subterranean tunnels
Wind is just the future
racing past your ears
A woman stares down the elevator shaft
of a hotel high-rise. Her fist
full of capsule lullabies
with names like doomed princesses:
Desyrel, Sertraline
She imagines her body as a flashing neon sign.
off. on. off.
