A DRAGON LOVES ME, MOTHER!

Wild eyed
she dares to tell her mother:

“A dragon loves me, mother!”

Her mother
more than a little perturbed

wails: “Why...why...oh
why. . .

do you always fall for
mythical creatures?”

“Well, at least
it’s not another ****** saint!”

“Oh you have had more
than your fair share

of saints!”

“Why can’t you go for a butcher, a baker
or even( God forbid )a candlestick maker?”

“What was the name
of your last saint?”

“George the something
or other...the jealous one?”

“Just wait ‘til he finds out
you’ve dumped him for a dragon!”

“A dragon...what will it be next
eh...eh?”

“An unicorn...a chimera?”
her mother moans on and on.

But wild eyed and dreaming
daughter’s not even listening

dreaming only
of her dragon

of his fiery breath
of his shiny scales
of the graceful curl of his tail.

“A dragon loves me...”
“A dragon loves me...”

she whispers
to the inner core

of her
self.

I am free!
I am happy,
I am enough.
I am beautiful,
I am me,
No apologies.

I left my blue, cotton tee dress
On your floor, and I...
Didn't come back for more;

You kept calling every night
Not sure why you put up
Such a fight
To take over my mind
When I told you we
Should end it,
See other people,
Move on,
Avoid the hurt
And the pain.
Everything was
Condescending,
Silly string animal puppet silhouettes
On your wall danced
Of something insincere
Like black magic trickery
And licorice idiocies
Mirrors cast in open flames
Meant to fuel a clever game.

Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring...
Pick up the phone
"Pick up, I know you're home..."
Ring, ring, ring...
I shut off my phone,
Not listening.

"Please call me back. I just wanted to let you know that you left your blue dress here."

"It's okay.  It's just a dress.  I'll buy another.  It's not worth going back to blue."