the essence lady
wears her irregular uniform
a pinstripe kente
syncopation suit
she dreads her hair
sprung from lock down
under steel teeth press gang
galleys upstart crow's nest
eyes lashed half open
look of lust bitten
lips licked the dusky
wicked tongued huzzy
am I your type
that latest lurid blurb
was all she wrote her
highbrow pencil broke
From Muse & Drudge, page 35, by Harryette Mullen, published by Singing Horse Press. Copyright © 1995 by Harryette Mullen. Used by permission. All rights reserved.