Light the candles.
kill the lights,
the voices
burnt down
like the incense sticks
graying, (praying),
as the static stereo plays
Labyrinth music.
We blindfolded her,
she lay on the pea-green shag carpet.
Ice cubes melt on our tongues
we pass one back and forth in our mouths,
over her body.
She removed the babydoll dress
of parents and religion and propriety.
Dark hair touched, with the first non-fuck,
she was unbalanced.
We removed the blindfold,
she opened herself to the Sirens.
Candles, burned down.
She poured the wax into her hand,
made her fingerprints in it
and in my carnal mind......

The perm chemicals
reek through the salon
making me a little dizzy
(just for a second I thought I could look good in anything).
The book on my lap
crinkles the plastic bib
as I try to decide,
purple or red.
The overly made-up girl
drones on like the dryers.
I don't know anyone she knows.
I don't even see how she sees.
She may as well be dead to me,
except now, she's doing my hair.
Deep Wine Burgundy or Copper Flame Sunset?.....

Wine, grape-flavored, sparkling cider.
wine. The name is blurry, I don't care.
"Can we drink this?" I asked him,
"Will your mom notice?"
His parents were out of town.
We spelunked through that pristine furniture,
trying not to spill anything.
I never liked the stuff that burns.
Irish Cream, they put in coffee.
Scotch, a better brand of tape.
Ash-gray carpet under white feet,
so magnetic, I can't resist falling.
I never understood the appeal of drinking
until my entire body was made of liquid.
(and me) the fish queen
felt music seeping into every pore.
All of my senses, one universal sensation.
I never want the cloudiness in my brain to clear.
The unity pounding through my little threshing-floor body.
the thrill of forgetting who you are......

I sat outside the Union Building
smoking half a clove
as the stars emerged from their hiding places.
self-appointed exile.
An old gentlemanly stranger sat next to me on the bench,
breaking my reverie.
He said his name was Sherman
like my brother works at Sherman-Williams.
We talked a while about his cancerous wife, executive career, and grandkids,
my lost friends, the death of virginity, and the new puppy.
He could've been my father, or a killer.....