Sibling Rivalry

Sister      I don't, I don't want no snakes on me. But put
               them worms around me & I'm a princess of slender
               slippery sounds, got a carriage without wheels
               that slides in rain. Got a half-shaped brother
               swoonin' for gals in mags, a great fat
               pumpkin croonin' love songs soft & low. You talk
               la-la I'm gone through smoky mirrors & beaded
               curtains while you're hopin' to shave your face.
               One hair, two hair, three hair four—baby brother
               you'll never have no more.


Brother   Rhythmic Orion, my favorite friend, comes
               wrapped in chains, changes them to sheets,
               unwraps like angel food cake—no layer
               shows. He shows in the night, when I
               am asleep, when I take pants off he puts
               them on. A regular clothes thief. He makes
               me cry & he makes me laugh, he gives me guns
               to shoot the champs. & the champs go "oh" &
               "oh" & blink off their prizes. Rhythmic Orion
               strips off his belt & the stars spill in my hand.

Sister      Baby brother's got a gap in his face that needs
               fillin' fast. You watch the walls move, I'm
               busy. Don't talk to me about culinary angels &
               don't tell me the ways of the sun—you got a nerve
               slitherin' like eel breath, I'm gonna scuttle
               that steam. No years old & he wants to know
               where he's at. Honey, I been through that.
               I'll knock the stars off your hair. Macho doggies,
               that's how I end—that's what the last word
               bam-bam said.