RENAY
CREDIT CARD TEARS
I cried a black angora dress
because he burned our wedding photos
three silk nightgowns
for a box of letters
when he fucked the blonde
in my bed, I shed
four hundred fifteen tears
on a pair of boa boots
plus tax
the dislocated shoulder
wept an emerald ring,
a sapphire tennis bracelet
when he cut my lip
next to the
you're ugly when you're pregnant
rayon jacket, hangs a
go to hell black leather skirt
by design, one size too small
the wardrobe is crammed
with fights and mistresses,
fuck you, whore, go to hell outfits
I've a whole damn boutique
but not one I love you
to wear
CAN I PLEASE COME HOME
she is twinkies and cola convenience store fat
in stretch pants black hair cut short round
face too made up Avon lady demo crazy in a white
Camaro she can't afford foostamp change for smokes
to drive drive the man magnet tinted windows hiding
double chin ya want some boys?
he is armchair Monday night football round belly reclined
in the recliner with fudge cola popcorn Pell grant golfed
on Sunday baseball cards and homework backhand discipline
for children noisy over the World Series and more don't
wanna get a job homework ignoring her bitching and
wanting to get laid
four days after the wedding she got jonesey lifted mommy's
checkbook visa guarantee for a spree high on crank
bought herself a floppy hat tube of runaway in case she snagged her
hose dime bag dime bag dimebag and some more twinkies
left the kids with strangers put new tires on the car called
him from Seattle can I come home did you sleep around no
can I please come home are you high no can I please come home
did you buy me anything damn it can I please come home
LAUGH LINES
this is the time for not frowning
for not smiling either
because each time I do
the gentle crescent creased
between my nose and chin
lingers longer afterward
reminding me maybe I have smiled
too much already
and at some point some
soft humor will etch itself
permanently along my cheek
until I either have to smile
forever to hide it
or face my face as mine
wondering
what was so damn funny
that it chiseled me
like stone
Renay
© 1997
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