The Stripper

Beside herself, beside the do’s and don’ts,
She thought of mannequins, put on her smile,
And said again this gig would sure as hell
Buy food for them and so began to dance.

She whirled away the silhouettes, instead
To be her entourage of gentlemen,
And each would ask Milady (as a friend)
To waltz with him along the esplanade.

But silk-like stockings barely tantalize
The gandydancers of ironclad hides,
Reeking of pork and stein. They gird what’s left
Of shame with dollar bills while tits and ass
Turn pirouettes from which eyes shadowed glance
Beyond the girders to heaven itself.