So the black velvet was tucked away

behind the DJ booth

until the night began to wind down

and I came to retrieve it

Handing it to me

the DJ said

I want to put this on, inside out

without a shirt           

I agreed

It would feel marvelous against bare skin

Because I know the DJ

this is not creepy

at all

Because he has never flirted with me

not once

in his life

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

okay

I’ve stopped laughing now

Perhaps he is just too stoned

to realize the power of his words

but I don’t think so

He is a poet

and all poets understand the weight and intensity

of words

this is what makes us

poets

It’s almost time to go now

The DJ is dancing as much as DJing

we are on the dance floor

one last time for the night

The only things I am comfortable with are

small animals

and flowers

the DJ turns to me and says

Yes, I know

I only know how to relate to those who

also don’t know how to relate to others

If I were a flower

stem erect

petals drifting with the wind

stamen

male sex cell

pollen producer

pistil

female reproductive organ

producer of fruit

I would be self-contained

no need for another’s touch

except of course for the pollinators

the pollinators are vitally important

Is the DJ certain he is comfortable

with flowers?

I throw the black velvet cape over my shoulder

hug the DJ

and leave