performative clown

step right up,

gentlemen and lads,

and see him bend to fit your needs

he'll be what you want

for a penny a day

for a moment tell him what you want to feel

give him markers and placements and directions and guidance

he'll give you what he thinks makes illusion the dynamic he wants

but don't give him too much

no

don't pull back the veil

don't expose the reality

he knows the disillusionment

continue the desire you flaunt

step right up

guys and men

poison apples and sticky lips

make believe that the show is for no one else

after all,

he painted his face up just for you

blue in the face

an exhausted memory from trying to cling to love

picture perfect, glad it got caught

high-wire memories hoping for similarity

or sweet love clarity

clap those hands together and revel

sweet boys have gotten older

and messages remain the same

relevance is still conditional

upon the stiffness of a prick

he can only exist beyond this refrain