Who Chose Lili Elbe
by Danielle Pafunda

In that world, I took it trench coat, bowler askew,
tie pin, or great gusseted trou.  The microphone’s
corona of heady timing.  I sang it thus.  I waggled.
Eyebrow to the fix, suspenders arch with prescience.

Until the surgeons’ ball.  What a mint I was!
A two-for one-liner.  As in clearance of property,
I paid them to take what was mine, what was matter,
and to leave behind a thesis.  A hypothesis.

Naught.  Of course.  Graphs and charts don’t pay
the rent, don’t a telos make.  I tell you this, they took

Other poems by Danielle Pafunda in ActionYes #2:
Wherein a Surrogate Ventures, Hazards
Who Chose Carmen Miranda