I come from a clothesline of shirts
not my size, I accessorize
with a skeleton key, complementary
colors that clash, red Corvair, green
Cadillac. I come from Wild Turkey mouth
to mouth, rake of poker chips, a flush
don’t beat a full house. I come from smoke
choked, stiff petticoats, rasp of ballet
slippers skimming the floor. I come from
spooned out of the jar, please knock, bell
is broken. When I close my eyes, I see
a velvet drape with pleats that hold their shape
parting the red shouldered sky. Watch
it billow, given breath, watch me sway.