Soft Money

-Rae Armantrout



They’re sexy

because they’re needy,

which degrades them.


They’re sexy because

they don’t need you.


They’re sexy because they pretend

not to need you,


but they’re lying,

which degrades them.


They’re beneath you

and it’s hot.


They’re across the border,

rhymes with dancer—


they don’t need

to understand.


They’re content to be

(not mean),


which