Diva Diversions

“Writing is the

art of digression”

—Severo Sarduy

Jack Smith suddenly would fall—

Into her Cleopatra chaise longue

Doing her version of a diva flix

Haughtily demanding an asp

The tardy signalectic script—

Always late, long past curtain-time,

The embodied one saying in profile

A brief line displaying her earrings

Doing her diva flix routines & the—

Usual arabesques, pale pink chiffon

Miniaturist profiles disguising her

Obvious shortcomings & charms

Saffron & vermilion eye-shadow—

Reciting her pouty cue lines, mostly

Forgettable, blinking her fake

Eyelashes, her coy Ali Baba swoon