O Died Like An Owl

Joleen Long

With my Pentax at 4 AM
I look in the mirror
back at the lens where I’m
standing in my blue pumps
standing in my 20″ pearl necklace

beads from fresh water but it’s okay because they are heavy
they feel real
they are as real as the red in my hair
but it’s permanent semi-
permanent and my eyes will blink as I put

the purple gag into my mouth

spread

the blades of my back and watch the little spindles of hair

squeal
as I pose
oh – so – magnificently
just for your attention,
just for the hope that
you’re thinking of me
and how our aftermath shines like coral.