The MILLION-YEARS MASQUERADE III:
Realities for Men*
orchid ginger grapefruit
mist; delicious; enticing.
My father is still disappointed,
but I care less now
because I know that it’s
not really about me,
no matter what he says.
I’m looking people in the eyes
and smiling more now
because I smell like the man
I want to be.
With this confidence
that cannot be inherited,
and just a little bit of luck,
maybe today the crowd won’t scream
that I’m a faggot
or beat me to death
for trying to be proud of myself.
*Realities for Men by Liz Claiborne is a cologne; my favorite cologne, in fact. A companion piece to another poem of mine about a favorite cologne, Endymion.
The fourth and final installment of The MILLION-YEARS MASQUERADE (“Prelude”) will be posted on Thursday.
Love always,
your Mister
Lonely Hearts Chapel 