I Dreamed I Was Emcee

I dreamed I was Emcee
At an all night diner
That served anyone anytime
But whose charges weren’t in money
“sing for your supper” I would call
And everyone who walked inside
Would get up on my stage and spill their guts.

I dreamed I was Emcee
At an all night diner
Where everybody ate the things they brought
And when I gave the cue, they threw them up
And made a pretty mess upon my stage.

I dreamed I was Emcee
At an all night diner
Where people wrote circular poems
On styrofoam cups
Made sculpture out of their hashbrowns
Batiked their shirts with coffee stains
And drank steadily and seriously.

I dreamed I was Emcee
At an all night diner
That everybody showed up at eventually
And one night all the women of my past
Got up one after another and read me poems!
One said, “I just want to press you in a secret book
Like a leaf, you are so full of patterns.”
Another said, I just want to be your sister,
You incestuous fool.”
Another said, I just want to chop you in pieces
And burn you like incense you are so mystic
And sweetly heavy.”
Another said, “I just want to rub against you –
You have the smell of the art about you.”
Another said, I just want to crawl inside
Your armpit and cling like a wounded animal
In your shadow – “
Finally a large strange woman from the shadow
Stalked up and bit the head off the microphone…

I dreamed I was Emcee
At an all night diner
That served anyone anytime…