assassination

(Down the road from your memory track 7)

the heist was over     we girls

were planning what to do

with our haul      done with all the 

drilling through the wall

mama you took your leave from

dancing on the pole

if we had more sense

we’d have already left town

carrying our royal flush

      our diamonds from the vault

but we stuck around to celebrate

enjoy our newfound wealth

and one night we were heading out

the last to leave the drag show

where we saw Queen De’Voute

she was packing it in

already left her makeup and wig

but she couldn’t find her keys

in her purse so she was cursing 

at her rig       janky old thing

with a five card sticker

on the left hand wing

a man came around from the 

other side    she never saw him 

             approach

he was flushed tottering

already spewing reproach 

and hate inspired by his drink

we shoulda  already left

this town behind but we chose

to stay and see the flop

or maybe it was divine

luck written across the stars

on that summer night the lamplight

flickered     the man came closer

and Miss De’Voute triggered her

pepper spray but it didn’t phase that drunk

he only stumbled out of one shoe

                     yelling obscenities at the Queen

                      for living their queer truth

he hit her once and pushed her against

the door    she screamed and i 

couldn’t watch any more    i raced

over and scooped up that steel toe boot

i hit him with the hard end

and didn’t stop when i saw a bruise

nor when he ceased to move

because all i saw was that old abuse     after a while     

it felt     mama    you pulled me away   we bowed to

the Queen     shock upon her face 

blood upon mine

i can’t believe you killed the King 

of Spades she said

that crooked cop was sideways as

it gets and now he gets his grave