†

dennis whitaker, my love.

sleazy business dealings hidden behind swaths of glitter

a lipstick print on a shimmering neck

lowered eyes, husky voices, fingers searching for coins

the scream of applause drowning out exhaustion

stepping along in sky-high heels to a thrumming heartbeat

late nights, concealer-covered eye bags, unglamorous monday mornings

makeup shared between lazy fingers

picking up languages over time, speaking just enough to entertain

glitter on the floor of the cabaret the morning after

applying makeup over tear-stained cheeks

a new identity with a new costume, a new life in a new city

faces glistening with sweat and tears after a performance, chest rising and lowering faster than you can breathe

growing numb to glitter and parties, disassociating in the glamour

empty apartments that only see a few hours of sleep, lives left behind

soft feathers over hard muscle

the balance of a day and night job; callused fingers into jazz hands, slick buns into curled blowouts

ruby red lips dipping into a martini glass, leaving behind a stain

alcohol poured with poison

dancers moving in and out of rotation, lifelong friends never seen again

¹⁾ knuckles brushing across a cheek

²⁾ a fist knotted in the collar of a shirt

³⁾ lips pressed against a brow-bone

⁴⁾ legs intertwined under covers

⁵⁾ shaking hands knotted together

⁶⁾ two fingers pressed against a pulse point

⁷⁾ unsure fingers braiding hair

⁸⁾ thighs wrapped around a waist

⁹⁾ feet kicked up into a lap

¹⁰⁾ hands guiding a spoon up to waiting lips

¹¹⁾ linked pinkies

¹²⁾ a head leaned against a stomach

¹³⁾ footsie under a dining table

¹⁴⁾ hands playing gently with hair

¹⁵⁾ a thumb pressing down on a bottom lip

¹⁶⁾ fingers scratching at a scalp

¹⁷⁾ a chest pressed warmly against a back

¹⁸⁾ foreheads leaned against one another

¹⁹⁾ hands kneading at sore muscles