Pink Noose

the garment arrives in the mail

your furry legs stiffen as if they were about to bend backwards

like a flamingo

as you open the package

with jittery wrists

you’re charmed by the playfulness of the vibrant dianthus hue

glowing from the inside

you reach for the neon shoestring

admire it for its simple design

hold it in your palm

let the silk dangle and tangle between your fingers

like a pink hognose snake

before placing your feet through the loops

and pulling the pink noose up to your waist

fabric presses at your tailbone

wraps your hips and lower back

like fallopian tubes

securing itself comfortably

around your shape

feeling defiant and deviant

feeling empowered

you raise the pink bands toward your ribs

p

i

n

c

h

r e l e a s e

!

p

a

n

s

the slingshot thong marks your skin

where a paleness occurs

as if something inside you has just died

death to the ego grants life to the authentic

you feel secure

in the pink noose you wear beneath your dress pants

as you set off on your commute

for another grey day at work.