By Misti Velvet Rainwater
Date: 14 April 2000

Charmed

would you be willing to love me
     if you knew my secrets
           my shame
           my doubts
           my face without makeup
           my body without clothes
here it's dark
and loud
and we've both been drinking
since nine o'clock
surrounded by friends
and strangers
the deejay is Cupid
manipulating the mating ritual
with songs we fuck to
in our GAP clothes
in this steamy club
a jungle without vines

I know the lines
I've been with men
who had to draw it
out of me
but here I am
handing it to you
on a shiny silver platter
does it matter
what I do for a living?
I'm giving you my ecstasy
my best self
my irony
my breast self
expressed
with
fluid
grace
no trace
of hesitation
yours for the taking
I'm not faking
I'm ready to roll
trust me
I tell you
it is all under control
I know the troll
who lives under the bridge
I've paid the toll and he
will guarantee that you
get laid tonight
and it will
be easy
and you'll
be relieved
waking up
alone
with a pillow
cold as stone
stained with the scent
of my freshly shampooed hair

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