LIFE OF A PARTY

my mother raised

her boys to braise

and braid and sew

and saw and sing and

dance and dress and

duck before the swing

and swing before the

jump and jump before

someone tell you

your place is in

a safe with no

combination and say

aint no combination

for men they only meant

to bruise and brew

and boil over and

burn and break

themselves into

futile confetti of

stars and hearts and

diamonds of all colors

which at that point

ain’t nothing but

the spilled guts of

a potential party