bare-bones

costume theatre

—let us dance away, skeleton-hips
come sway with the beat and the rhythm
you were always a bit too thin
and you were always creating yourself
along with the dance
tying balloons to your fingertips
just to float out of here
gluing costumes to your skin
encrusted with glitter
just to blind them
oh jack, you didn't have to scrape it off
not all of it
you didn't have to throw it to the masses
or let it consume you

you were not a cigarette machine
you were not a public pool
you were not a perfect man
and you were no diamond fool

so smoke away, thin white lips
you were always collecting bits
and i know what it's like to find yourself
between figments and pigments
and couch cushions
and throwing it all together in a shoe box
and burying it in your backyard
because that's what we do now
grow new selves in questionable soil
add water and much-needed sunlight
foster the new you
juxtapose with the old
detest what you once were

but i wish i could meet your new eyes
and touch your avante garde hips
and kiss your modern lips

i would kiss you
if i could
and i should

but you scrapped off all your skin
and now i'm left with your skeleton

Confusingly,
RB