Mother
Rent from DeepDyve- Mother
Madonna of material, I snappedmy rosary, made it into a bracelet for youat Sunday school, sneaked downstairsto see you lit before inflamed crosses,my fingers scented with your patchouli-cassette.I get drunk, Madonna.So drunk I sneak leftover drinksfrom the bar. I lose myself in the mirrorplucking gray hairs, tug at the sagin my belly. I want to conquer my fear ofheights, Madonna. Of having roaches or the virusinside my body. I want a cheap twenty-two-year-old lover who doesn't speakEnglish. I want my hair bleached blond.I want to go to the bar, Mother. I wanta vodka double, Mother, a double vodkaMadonna on the rocks. [End Page 129]
Stephen Zerance is a poet living in Baltimore, Maryland, and holds a MFA from American University. His poems have previously appeared or are forthcoming in Knockout, Bloom, Chelsea Station, The Gay and Lesbian Review Worldwide, and MiPOesias.
