Masquerade

Masquerade

Deep in the concrete jungle,
Along the Highway 
Trans-Siberian,
One with a
Blue complexion
Admires His 
Reflection
In the window
Of a store’s 
Facade.

Rama waits outside
For Sita.

Rama is an 
Exorcism 
Addict.
He lights a fag
Between his teeth
and watches
The dark spirit
Drift away.

A moth is drawn to 
His light.

Naka 
Sashays 
Towards Him.
Clothed in drag,
Clothing drags 
Her down,
But sHe can’t strip.
Not here.
Only butterflies
Can abandon their
Chrysalises.

SHe can metamorphose, 
Though only externally.

Strands of 
Cubic Zirconium 
Dangle before Rama–
Strands of which sHe is 
not.

SHe is not simply
A beautiful mirage.

Naka
Falls 
For Rama. 
Rama 
Leans 
for Her. 
Prostrate and 
Bent,
Blue and
Lavender...
Could it be
Love?

Sita emerges from the store
Like a butterfly from a chrysalis.

Naka
Trips on 
Clothing
When Sita 
Sets Rama 
Straight.
Her 
Disguise rips
At the seams.
SHe is 
Flooded with
Fear.

If one is Uranian 
Does that make one an alien?

Naka is crooked.
Rama is straight.
But sHe can’t be crooked.
Not here.
All must be
Straight in
Mother Russia.

Must one be hetero
To be a Homo sapien?

Now Rama must
Set things straight.

Rama is an 
Exorcism 
Addict.
He lights the fag
Between his teeth
and watches
The dark spirit
Drift away.

Once a beauty 
Now a beast, 
Because 
SHe 
Is the same? 
Is one’s heart 
Different 
Without the 
Masquerade?

       ***

In The Ramayana, Soorpanaka falls in love with Rama. When she appears to Rama as a beautiful maiden, Rama is entranced by her beauty. However, when Sita appears, Soorpanaka's true identity is revealed. Soorpanaka is cast off because she is demonic. Through comparing homophobia in Russia to demonophobia in The Ramayana, I hope to convey that love is love, regardless of gender.