Exit Stage Left

ringing up service

from the monkey room

* brandy alexander toot sweet *

drifting sobbing screaming

through seconal sweat

curtain call

            exit stage left

quivering horns carrying aloft

the sweet scent of agave 

on the summer breeze

malodorous alleyways

where twofold shadow

hid acts unspeakable

sliding from prude to lewd

actions logged only in the

smeared diaries fit for a

booze puffed runt 

until the sourness set in

beaten by sailors in Santa Monica

raped by a beach boy in Mexico

until dried out like a corn husk doll

a glass animal

born to be smashed

words words words to paste it all up

thoughts surgically altered in twin time

paid for over and over

the box office returns sharpened

by whetstone dried out

like a corn husk doll

nailed under the floorboards

a frail animal

born to die

cradled with soft hands

but dripping through the grip

a cocktail without glass

one last drink

monkeying with the biographer’s aim

hand held

deliberate

chewing the seconal stopper one handed

fumbling for the drink

when it slipped fell shattered

a gasp unbidden

invited the final nail

not intended not welcome not planned

but still — dramatically apt

a reflexive giggle sealed the deal

cackling catharsis

                              exit stage left

bury me 

at sea

with 

Hart 

Crane


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