so glad I was able to find this photo, 3 sisters and me in our Halloween finery (lol covered the neighborhood friend with words),
Virginia (top left), Dolores (lower left), Grace (lower right) and me the clown 😊, my two brothers (one not yet born) not pictured here
since Halloween is near and my soon-to-be printed (yea) book
is due mid-December or earlier (yea)
I’m posting the only verse in love of the monster
that pays direct homage to this most wicked and deliciously sweet celebration
love of the monster, is a black and white illustrated book
color was added here to protect the innocent;)
we pantomime the roles we are destined to play
iterations of our selves powdered with granules of age
we struggle to sparkle on each splintered stage
box the translucent director about the ears
we sob if swollen roses aren’t tossed at our aching feet
these theatrical lives we dress and primp for
our practiced actions and exaggerated thoughts
fill the numbered rows
passersby note the sheer breeze on perfectly presentable days
how grand the marquee introduces us
until the night inevitably falls
a lingering effect of banner reviews
the shade pulls away the sun
among the threadbare seats
highlights are broken down
gels stop proffering hazy moon glow
the distressed set has sunk well below the orchestra pit
as we strip costumes and scrub away masks
in our disposable dressing rooms
a crystal decanter smiles and
in its bottomless grandeur we
search for that little drop of poison
to ease hellacious day into callous night
where no lights warm obsidian air
or hollow stories clap clogged memories
still the flashing sign stage left reminds us
we must soon exit
Flapping
