The Cougar Club

Hairspray
Rouge
Too much lipstick, painted on thick like paint
Reaching fingers, fire-engine red
200 of them, crammed, pushing, fighting, screaming
Must get closer, must get closer
He’s mine, he’s mine
So much sweat and polyester
Drawn-on eyebrows marching like fat brown caterpillars
Rhinestones cover anything that stands still
Shouting, grasping, oooh she got it first I’ll kill her!
Each one certain she’s the favorite
They just want a piece just one little token
Like vultures to a dead zebra
Picking, picking

Yum yum, swallow, repeat

Eating it all up never caring if someone gets pushed down
Their loss, oh well, I got another teddy bear, another scarf!
I’ve been to 50 shows, you know, oh yes practically family!

Aren’t his children darling? Then offers to babysit when all they want

Is stories to tell their friends.
Vultures to the dead,
Birds of prey to the lifeless meat,
Closer in, closer in, their lipstick leaves stains on his cheek
Talons stroke the polyester, maybe pinching, always laughing
Oh excuse me but I must get another picture, I’ve only got
347 at home, and of course my husband doesn’t mind that I spend
Our whole retirement fund following that gorgeous young thing around
The country because after all,
I’m his biggest fan.

Wild (Sweet Accidents)

There was a prison-bus-limo outside Pizza Hut

(beef jerky)

And we watched a bad Disney Channel show while we ate

(cherries too)

That delicious pizza with subliminal meaning

(i’ve never noticed how much you cuss)

Stuffed with greasy cheese.

 I was scared to even go

(place where it all began)

Through the front doors

(not going to talk to me)

And up to the table where

(never been tickled by whiskers before)

He waited.

 But it was okay, it was

(i’d nearly forgotten how beautiful you are)

More than okay, it was

(oh, please don’t laugh too much)

Just like old times.

 There was the usual

(one day maybe you’ll do it)

Letdown at the end, squeezing

(you said you would, pretty much promised)

My eyes shut tight so I wouldn’t see

(maybe at show #20)

Those stupid glow-in-the-dark American flags.

 Then you hugged me close

(smelling that secret, expensive cologne)

And sighed, remembering this time that I was a senior

(just two more left, but don’t think of that now)

Telling me that I came to mind every time

(if that’s a lie it’s a beautiful one)

You sang that song.

 You  laughed and talked about your children

(Kaison, Presley, and ah yes, their mother)

Until I thought I’d burst with hidden jealousy

(wish I never saw her, knew her face)

And blurt out the Truth.

 But then, oh yes but then

(something special always happens here)

You went to hug me again and instead

(god bless sweet accidents)

Of kissing my cheek, you made our lips duet

(keep breathing, inhale then exhale)

And I could have died happy on the spot

(knowing I really couldn’t have you)

With you as my very first kiss.