American Erotica by william o'neal ii

This is what it means to be American. To always want something in your mouth.

American Erotica

by william o'neal ii

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It’s all alright darling
drop your act. Say that you know
what you want.
Pull the toy shaped like a hand
gun from the night-
stand & open your mouth
like a baby dove waiting
for morning to come.
Your lover enters
from the bathroom right before
you pull the trigger.
She replaces the barrel
with her thumb.
This is what it means to be
American. To always want something
in your mouth. Virginia
Slim. Toothpick. Golden
reed. Say that you know
what you want. Stand
at the top of the tower.
Monument of indulgence.
Shrine of desire.
Drop your panties
to the wind. Baby,
this is the sound
of an American. A cooing.
A suckle. A land
flowing with milk
& money.
Say that you know
what you want. Someone
beautiful to notice
your swollen bulb
of suffering. Someone
to place the tip
of their thumb
on the pistil
of your tongue & watch
as you massage the red
plum hidden beneath
the bough of your bush.
A ripening. Someone
to say good job
& half-heartedly want you
to stay. Pull up
your bootstraps
like a good western
boy & ride off. Prodigal
son on horseback
chugging across state
lines. The stars lining
the sky like a Christian
Louboutin belt.
This is what it means to be
American. A game
of role play where you act
as your own Messiah. Running
a great distance towards
an unending dark
blue sky. Hoping
it leads back
to your childhood.
An eternal American
summer. Green
pools. Boiled pigs.
White girls with pink
tans. Mouth full
of juju bees.