charlotte had twenty eight teeth, but only six of them were hers
(i never knew this until i flew to boston to sit in the front row of her funeral)
a long-named cancer ate her uterus like a peanut butter cup
cousin & i said "cheers", *clink*; michaels foot screaming "accelerate!"
i liked to call her charlotta; remind her that she was an indonesian princess
with a slice of lemon in chilled water and batik fan sweeping her hair
the russet skirts flaring; stockings to her thighs
red HEELS& lips to match, ear-infections and clip-ons
makeup mirror in the early morning;
precision with a kohl pencil
;there is nothing better for us to do; lully told me as she poured another drink
& i sang charlottes baptist church songs to scare away the midnight ghosts
i sang from the shower floor; hard water poking my ribs; melting into the tears
my back pressed to vinyl flowers on the linoleum, neck bent irregularly.
the last of summer,
gripping the dead
