confessions of a
teenage drama queen

--- for Donald Trinidad
I was a male war bride. I was a spy
so I married an axe murderer. I married joan
I married a monster from outer space

I am guilty, I am the cheese, I am a fugitive from a chain gang
maybe I'll come home in the spring. I'll cry tomorrow
whose life is it anyway? it's a wonderful life

I want to live. I want someone to eat cheese with
who am I this time? I am cuba. I am a sex addict
why was I born? why must I die? I could go on singing

I'll sleep when I'm dead. I know who killed me
I was nineteen, I was a teenage werewolf, just kill me
kiss me, kill me. kill me later, kill me again

give me a sailor, if I had my way, I'd rather be rich
I wouldn't be in your shoes. I wish I had wings
I wish I were in dixie (I passed for white) I was framed

I was a burlesque queen, I was a teenage zombie
I was an adventuress, I was a convict, I was a criminal
I did it, I killed that man, murder is my beat, I confess

--- From Chronic
D. A. Powell
©2009 Graywolf Press
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