Take Six (Off Hollywood)

Take four was last night when our arms
touched on the corner of Lexington Avenue.

Take five was the fury I danced
away in my bathtub with my torso.

This is take six, pancakes and champagne,
this is divine-

He said, take one blue pill in the morning.

Darling, I thought about us yesterday.
Wasted way in a great big chair that
held me like my daddy did,

I tried to sigh you out.

There was no release.

So then I tried to write you out
with the repetition of the word beautiful.

Beautiful for the notes you played me,
beautiful for the way you enraged me.

Take four was when I woke up
dreaming at 2 am.

Take five was me standing in the museum,
staring at drab, realistic painting of children.

Take six was delovely,
take six was candy cherries-

He said, take three black pills at sunset.

Take four was when I lined
the windowsill with pop bottles.

Take five was my toast to
the damning of men.

Take six was cherries and chocolate coins,
Ice cream in bed, rocky road from a chipped coffee cup.

He said, take one violet pill at night.