A Late-Night Playroom Soirée

A Late-Night Playroom Soirée

Lauren Aspery

Sitting
cross-legged
on the blue carpet
under the glow
of the bare yellow bulb.
Sipping water
from a tiny wine glass,
plastic,
also yellow;
small enough
for the fist
of a seven-year-old girl.

Intoxicated
between notes of melamine
and the glare
of the lime green walls.
Drunk in my make-believe kitchen,
drinking from my make-believe cup,
wine straight from the bathroom tap.

I turn to the radio and press play.
“MY TITANIC CD!” starts to spin
and, from inside the metallic soundbox,
My Heart Will Go On emerges.

I lie on the floor,
kicking the pink office chair
from underneath
so it turns
Near
and turns
Far
and turns
Wherever you are
to the sound of Celine Dion.

Lauren Aspery