I never could have been the prom queen,
perfect hair and teeth and nails, smiling sweetly for the cameras
humble under my sash and crown and waiting for the crowd to blink
and offer up the chance to pull the flask out from between my legs
beneath the satin curtain
of my dress.
I was happy under the bleachers,
eyes ringed with black and breath sweet with cheap wine
not quite bold enough to be slutty, yet
not quite small enough to hide.
I felt the words slip off my tongue like I was dreaming
I felt the time crawl from my head and I was lost.
When the music died and the limo crashed and the town went cold and still,
I laid my face against the pavement
and danced till morning came.