Valen-times Deca-dance

No Disclaimers

On the day after Valentine's

Koreatown is like a hangover.

Shimmering red and pink

Cupids remain on the windows

Of Korean barbeques.

Tables from which street vendors

Sold heart-decorated teddy bears

Are abandoned.

The temporary smiles

Were wiped away last night

As Los Angeles returns to

Grim-faced routines.
The only red things in the city
That don't make us sick
Are emergency exits
And posters that say things like
"Stop diabetes"

On Valentine's Day we eat sugar hearts

Until our stomachs are upset.

On Valentine's Day we smell red roses

Until we become nauseous.

On Valentine's Day we binge drink love

Like some specialty liquor

And now puke is on my bathroom floor.

The sugar hearts could never assuage loneliness.
They're made of chalk and Red 20
They say stuff like "be mine?"
With the word "be" spelled with the letter "B"

They're not anatomically correct.

Cheeks tired from smiling,

After we've put in our day of loving for the year,

Our migraines plan their attacks.