"Blonde Imposter"

Blonde imposter
wiggle walk
red lips
red nails
giggle talk
breasts the size
of cantaloupes
all men
longing to grope
Lie to them
say you're not
Smile at them
get what you want
Blonde imposter
dress too short
sequined dreams
you've come to court
taking Hollywood
by the balls
More than a dumb blonde
you showed them all
Sex appeal
in the end
wasn't enough
of a stipend.
Good-bye
Norma Jean
Marilyn
was and stole
your dreams
And even now
see what they do
Use your image
to exploit you.
Good-bye
Sweet Marilyn
the great
Blonde Imposter.

* Dedicated to the late Marilyn Monroe of whom I am a great fan.

"Like a Scene"

Our parting
played out
like a scene of
a movie
You stood in the sloping
street in the hills
of Sausalito
smoking a cigarette
silhouetted by the glare
of the sun
setting into the Bay
You motioned to me
for one last kiss
I couldn't help but wish
The Pacific would
ask us to dance
And
We would waltz
into pristine eternity
One day we'll be rewarded baby
One day we'll swim away
One day we'll hold each other baby
and slip into the Bay
You wiped my tears from my face
allowing the salty remnants
of another time
another life
soak into your skin
and into your soul
I quoted Shakespeare
"Farewell, parting is such sweet sorrow"
We laughed at my cheesy good-bye
I looked at you, into you
and drove away
crying
and clutching the matchbook
I picked up
as a momento.

"Morning Diva: In Three Parts"

Morning Diva: Walking
She walks tall
perfectly in platform shoes
with pedicured toes
Dark hair, palest of skin
competing for attention
Oh, baby
those red lips
formed as if to say
"Fuck You" (in one way or another)
Wayfarer sunglasses
and the faintest scent of yesterdays perfume.

Morning Diva: Staring
Casually cocking her pony tailed head
she peers above her sunglasses
blue pools, heavily massacred
stare straight through him
a look of disgust
one lip Elvisified
arched eyebrows, raised
throwing her fake cheetah fur coat
inside the car
She speeds away.
No regrets
No looking back

Morning Diva:Sleeping
Black hair spread
on white cotton pillowcases
stained lips slightly parted
breathe of an angel
face, delicate in dream
naked next to
yet another conquest
One eye glances
to the right
she sighs
wondering when he'll
wake and leave.

"What I Know"

I know I work three nights next week,
I know I need a change, a change of clothes, a change of pace, I know I need
to change the world.
I know my children love me and the moon is full tonight.
I know life can be hard and that I'll be ok even when I'm not.
I know there will come a time when
I'll look back at this and laugh.
I know I'll find you
You the one who speaks to my heart,
calling me, wanting me, loving me
Even though,
I don't know you're name, age or any other minor detail.
I know you are alive, a life, a lie
A little love can turn this day around
I know, I know, I know
There will be dishes to wash, faces to wash, cars to wash,
Wash away the hurt, the insecurities, take it all away
I know one day, maybe next Tuesday
I'll find my lost address book
I know, I know
I'll never drive a minivan or throw a Tupperware party
I know Mochas are caffienated, chocolaty goodness,
But, Mountain Dew will do
I know Daisies make me smile
and November can be cold.
I know that I will be ok
I Always Am.

"Dark Secret"

Her skin as untouched as the desert sand
Her eyes, the color of the thirsty land
Her hair as black as raven's wings
Yet, I do not know the song she sings

She dances her country's typical dance
Every step is correct, practice not chance
In her eyes, a love, and in her soul
There remains a secret that remains untold

Her heart belongs to another man, but
Her marriage was left in her father's hand
A crystal tear trickles down her soft cheek
She watches the crowd, her true love she seeks

The Cachaca ends and alone she stands
In front of the people, clapping their hands
Across the stage, she floats to the right
Her forbidden love, still not in her sight

Gray hallway shadows play games with her mind
Her dark skinned lover she finally finds
He kisses tenderly his lovely light
Then together they run into the night

For the last time she sheds innocent tears
Blinded by love it's his voice she hears
Paraguayan pair afraid of the light
Girl to a woman in only one night

Six months have passed, he left her in three
Alone and pregnant she wanders the streets
No longer is the passion in her brown eyes
Yet in her dark soul that lost love lies

On the steps of a Catholic Church she cries
And pondering life, she decides to die.

"Secret Flame"


Secret Flame

You only came in for a beer
and she blows in
like a tornado on fire
Electric smile
telling you her love story
You, calm eyes
cool voice
get caught aflame
and burn
wrapped in her words.
You only came in for a beer
but left
with more than you know.

"The Day She Left"

Coffee table stacks of folded laundry
Half cup of Earl Grey
Coupled with an ashtray
Cigarette butts with her lipstick
She'll be back to put it all away.

Kitchen table moonlights as her studio
Oils, Pastels, Charcoals
Canvassed stories left untold
Breakfast plates dry near the sink
She'll be back, to put it all away.

Picnic table, shriveled dandelion bouquet
Paint splattered
Toys scattered
Sweater lies waiting on the bench
She'll be back to put it all away.

Bedside table, black & white shrine
Determined eyes, haunting smile
Young for awhile
(never old)
I save my tears for early autumn nights
She'll be back, to wipe them all away.

"I Was Married"

I was married to a man
who thought my eyes were droopy
and pointed out
that the left one
was larger than the right one
he never noticed
that they were greener when I cried
and that was often
I was married to a man
who thought my belly was fat
and pointed out
that before we had kids
I had been a skinny little waif
he never noticed
that I was soft and womanly
and not the little girl he had married

I was married to a man
who thought my love
was not enough
my body was not thin enough
my cooking not tasty enough
my housekeeping not clean enough

I was married to a man
that thought so poorly of himself
he tried to make me
feel bad too

I WAS married

"Hypocritical"

I am a hypocrite
Yes, proudly with my head hung down
I say Hoorah for morality
and then sleep with your husband
missionary, doggy-style and Lewinsky-ing

I sing loudly about God
then sign my soul over to the devil
in order to bend the bible around my political views

I love everyone
but not you
you are too dark, fat, stupid, slutty, Female
Some of my closest friends are just like you.

I am against abortion
unless I am raped
I am for the death penalty
no matter what.
I am for freedom of speech
unless I don't agree with what you say
I am for equality
unless my dinner isn't on the table and
the kids aren't quiet
when I get home.

I am a hypocrite
Yes, proudly hiding
behind my God

"Canyon De Chelly"

Arms raised
Head held to sky
I
Close my eyes
facing the setting sun
Cool, dry
breath of my ancestors
Encompassing my
naked skin
I stand
unashamed
shouting
my name
Declaring
I am alive....