Stars and Stripes Forever

candy cuticles and splotched skin--
my right hand is stained with blueberry juice

a violet leprosy,
connect the dot constellations
drawn into one hand
-ily placed map of the galaxy
blue like boy blue's blue blue horn

if I dragged this berry
down and up my arms
would I look like a zebra?

I could parade out into the streets
like a flame thrower buxom bearded lady

fifteen cents to see the striped American
twenty two cents to lick it off

a circus sight to see, and full of antioxidants

Then I could light my hair on fire
and dance an offering to the goddess of fruit--
to nectar, to color
to sex and poison,
all sweet.