An Inch of Burlesque

edge of the stage      i was
as a lower curtain
barbaric cheekbath of the tub
the nape of her      he could see
gleaning      now wall now not

            first of all
            i want you to stoically unbutton
            i don’t care what

mime who was playing
perched tree trunk      she edgewise
her ass than yours i
said      inner thighs
don’t care whose      i’m starving
language morphed to lit him ravenous
eager to dive down
he smoke and feathered through the door
drunk on images of who was studying fire
dipping his tongue into
like a hummingbird
haven’t had a dream of a meal for weeks
asylum      wet
the return to religion

from Oedipus' First Lover (2009)

Toll Free

please call toll free
he is waiting for your call
inside a toll booth
that he is locked into
inside his own telephone
where he has to answer
all the time
and he hopes one of these times
you’ll sing to him
and he’ll be free

from Oedipus' First Lover (2009)