Stripper Poetry 9.15.07

*Written on a napkin at the ACE OF CLUBS, Cairo, NY*

Dedicated to Jack, AC/DC & "Victoria"

crinkled memory
bustle on a dim, dirty
wedding day;
plastic jewelry cradling
stretchmarks
of a mother's love,
completely.

Shaking off your
poverty
into the clear glass slipper
of a poison
cigarette stick, teaching
you to come
into circumstance.

Firmly, like a damp
fine-toothed comb.

Selling their hair,
wares
to the drugstore population
too trembling as they
sweat
their nerves, and families
away.

Heavenly hosts in clear
plastic heels;
deciphering holy scripture,
crumbling limestone and ink
through the insides of
her thighs.

Won't be around tomorrow
when she's lying to the soft-
ball coach about her
streetfights,
nights out
and overnight flights--

to the grime marble floors,
tongue-licked clean
in a see through nightie from
another lip-stained,
sunny day.