A Face to Meet the Faces: An Anthology of Contemporary Persona Poetry

the vodka to Miss USA Tara Conner

150 A Face to Meet the Faces the vodka to Miss USA Tara Conner Marty McConnell lies don’t sit well on dry lips, pretty pretty— admit it. I made you. rocked you to sleep after each man left. when the hotel paintings crawled out of their frames to shame you, I took you mirror to barstool to blackout just like you asked when we stared, deadeye down, shot glass to bar. it was mutual. we had a deal. I gave you everything I’ve got and now you cry therapy. maybe you didn’t read the fine print, sweet thang. this here’s a lifetime agreement, a pact backed with blood and sworn on the flag, nothing you can give up so easy. when you were waiting tables in Tahoe, who brought you home every night, laid you down dreamless, took the Kentucky out of your sleep? it was me gave your tongue its wink and vaseline charm, got you through the Mint Jubilee and the Showboat Float, out of Russell Springs 151 Fifteen Easy Minutes and into pure Manhattan. you owe me. what are you going to do dry, my queen? the stammer will come back, and the drawl thicker than a mix of shit and molasses. you’ll be back. give your daddy my love when you see him. ...