American Apology
by Michael Collins

gorgeousness, before
offering with a beckoning

her body for what seemed
But I was too prudish

Seriously, even in
I’m either really not

or some gringo
Yes, we don’t sleep

not even in dreams
Clearly this Christens us

Why didn’t I give
standing there like a stick

Freud would have blown
I could have asked

her name, her conception
of Songs, but I did

to inter-
laterally, like I’m so much

in which people
certain select services

you need – or think
And then,

me, supine, naked,
gesture, a smile,

a reasonable fee.
to do it.

a dream it seems
very much fun

remake of Don Quixote.
with hookers, dream self,

where they’re not really hookers:
Gloria Steinem.

her something other than
in the mud—

his load on that one—
to draw her, asked

of Song
nothing, refused

course with her uni-
better than my culture,

you don’t know perform
for you, give you things

you need—
you pay.