Aunt Mildred and the Drag Queens

Saturday night Quarter bar

fish-tin packed men

testosteroned, tattooed, and pedicured

smells like Father’s nicotine hangover breath,

metallic alcohol and dank fungus.

.

Titty Toulouse and her divas ensconced by the stage:

Eva Las Vegas, Princess Stephanie, Blanche Debris and Anita Man.

Decked out, disguised, denatured:

Size fourteen glossy-loud pumps,

Pancaked with black Maybelline,

Synthetic lady-hair ratted and lacquered,

Forty-four double D Goodwill bras

Un-costumed jewelry from a dime store rack,

Lee Press-on Nails,

Collide with their 9 to 5 transformation.

With their legs crossed, they sip their beach-named drinks

from slim red straws

man parts taped and spandex smoothed

no signs of Tom, Dick or Harry.

The Princess breaks out of the herd, my neck hairs erect,

Oh honey, what does a girl have to do to get a drink in this dump?

The music fades, her face blurs—

Aunt Mildred appears,

Synthetic hair, saggy low hangers, cheap polyester pant suit

Her bourbon breath opens the door.

Her teeth streaked with crimson, tucks gray hairs into her wig.

Give your Aunt Mildred a kiss

as Mother does,

I pray to I wake from the clown-crazed nightmare,

She’s grabs my chubby cheeks, forces me close

Peppermint Schnapps mixed with make-up paste.

I wipe away Mildred with my T-shirt collar

Mother nods proud.

The bar erupts

Hoarse male accolades, gruff man-hoots,

Princess Stephanie on stage lip-syncs

Tammy Wynette, a scorned woman sings:

Stand by your man, and show the world you love him

Keep giving all the love you can, stand by your man

Aunt Mildred would have liked this bar.