grind

show me your pose,
your gravity-defying surgery
your bonded smile
your Clorox hair

show me the scars that made wrinkles unnecessary
show me the moments they paid for

there it is,
your egg timer body
decomposing with each hustle
while your sensibilities go numb with apathy and practice
that require five happy hour margaritas
to wash down the sin of each day.

About this poem

Written on 6/5/99 at 4:24am, after watching Heather Graham dancing to Lenny Kravitz’ “American Woman” video on VH1’s Insomniac Music Theater. She’s probably a nice person in real life, and all her parts are genuine, but what the hell, the poem wanted to be written.