The Wardrobe’s Best Dressed: A Woman in Progress by Barbara Marie Minney

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Dancing Naked Pantoum

I once bought porn on a Sunday school trip,
being naughty was the most delicious thing.
Building an island around conformity
was the greatest of all gifts I could bring.

Being naughty was the most delicious thing,
in the duskiness of the club, dance floor murky,
I was the greatest of all gifts I could bring
oscillating with the breath of sweat and yearning.

In the club’s duskiness, dance floor murky,
edges smear like a mirage, gyrating DJ
oscillating with the breath of sweat and yearning
apparition, in the time expanse, the crowd at bay.

Smearing edges like a mirage, gyrating DJ
guitar shredding, drums bruising Transgender Dysphoria Blues
in the time expanse, an apparition, the crowd at bay
buzz sawing rhythmic eruptions through my shoes.

Transgender Dysphoria Blues shredded by guitars, bruised by drums,
costume dragged over my head just as Laura Jane Grace sings
rhythmic eruptions buzz sawing through my shoes
voice carried to my ears on serpent’s wings.

Costume dragged over my head just as Laura Jane Grace sings
“You want them to notice the ragged ends of your summer dress,”
serpent’s wings carry her voice to my ears,
breasts caressing air, aroused nipples provoking the beat.

“You want them to notice the ragged ends of your summer dress”
tracing light rays from winking strobe lights,
breasts caressing air, aroused nipples provoking the beat
others receding into senseless rapture nights.



I once bought porn on a Sunday school trip,
provoking thoughts of liberation that have been,
tracing light rays from winking strobe lights
penis hardening into an encouraging grin.

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