My Mother’s Initials are E.R.A.

I pour
myself
into
too-tight jeans
and chunky heels
and a wonder bra—
a wonder I can
still breathe—and
a shirt too small
for my wonder
with the usual
accessories:
earrings,
make-up,
tattoos,
no lucid thought
in my head.
Happy hour.
You pour
me
out
my body dripping
from the lip
of a shot glass
drop by drop—
dry mouth,
wet lips,
heaving chest,
still no lucid thought—
into your mouth
for you
to drink up
but
you only
spit me out.


This page last updated 1/29/00.