When Given Urban Decay’s Naked Cherry Vice, Asked to Perform

by Jeni Prater

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I crave how my lips feel pressed 
together—coated & recoated— 
and how clumps luster 
in creases. Ask
lips if spite
could be 
gender?

                                       How about shine?

I have never 
been taught to apply 
anything smoothly; instead: bite 
to the pit, let stain glitter my tongue, & spit it out.

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Jeni Prater is a queer sexual violence and disability activist and works at the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center on the intersection of these. She has been published in "Wax Poetry, 45 Poems of Protest” & “Spry,” and was awarded the Academy of American Poets Prize at Wellesley College. She is the proud mama of 73 houseplants and the most derpy pitbull you ever did meet.