Medusa
Sheila Nicholls

Medusa woke up one day and shaved here head
well maybe no you'll let me a little closer she said
but she just sacrificed her identity instead

be careful about your trend
be careful how you tread

medusa went home again and watched TV
a commercial for deoderant, tampons,
so now we won't smell see
said the sister with the plastic smile,
excitement, and glee
buy your shame for free
buy your shame for free

and all the smiles that we spill
because it's part of the drill
the shame that we bare
for the floors that aren't there
the unfulfilled will be dismissed
for a savior, a kiss
the memories we repress...
when we undress

she went channel surfing
and all that was seen
were decorative women arrive on the screen
conventional images of adolecent male dreams
if men aren't around they fall apart at the seems
passive exposed
peaches and cream
survive like an object to blow off your steam
interchangeable fragments
and outlinea and shapes
they say no they mean yes to little girl rapes

and all the smiles that we spill
because it's part of the drill
the shame that we bare
for the floors that aren't there
the unfulfilled will we dismiss
for a savior, a kiss
the memories we repress...
when we undress

the rage trapped inside
smothered and dried
the words that we use
they divide and abuse
the wound between women
the war between women

medusa grew here hair back
around her face
she'd been looking for alignment
in the wrong place
so she called up her place
Malcom X and collie
and they go on a plane
cocked off too...
falling

X® ((*..*))