Dedicated to The Bar Complex in Lexington, KY 

You are ray of color—
Lit against the scratched dance floor like a lesson.
A chalkboard of winding cuts, steep death drops,
Stiletto love beat into tile. Sweet sweat silhouettes. 
This is the place of learning. Of praise dance. 
Of binding and leather family, Drag Mother and Bear Daddy.
No kings but Drag Kings, all here to protect the Dolls.
Fearless flawless forces of joy overflowing in the streets.
Hell raising and fundraising for decades in every red town.
Brick by brick of tailored thick sequin stitch.
Hope drenched river of rainbow satin southern gown.
The MC calls himself a flight attendant as he points to all the exits.
Here and there, in this time, in this place, just in case,
We carry Pulse in our heart, in our muscles every name.
Hand fans snap in attention like a choir of applause.
Testosterone testimony. Joy overflowing in the front
pews of a packed house. Home where we live outright.
World of wonder in every corner, alley, and eye,
masked puppy love and might, poly ponies, and one more
kiss goodnight. Juliet as Romeo, Duke as Dutchess,
Dynasty of Nasty Women and Royal Zim, Xe, and Xey.
Dapper butch beaus spinning web of dream love on stage
for skin fade infatuants. Emophilia queerbillie babies
Basking monarch moth men, soft men, amen
and hymn as heat limelight. All diamonds and dollars
and dildos and “To those who feel big and to those who feel small,
drink up because we love them all”